Omri Epstein, Piano
Mathieu van Bellen, Violin
Ori Epstein, Cello
Chamber music as a way of life: The Busch Trio
Named after the legendary violinist Adolf Busch, this piano trio has emerged as the leading young piano trio among the young generation, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics internationally. Omri Epstein “the group’s marvellously sensitive pianist”, Mathieu van Bellen, whose “silvery gleam darted eloquently”, and Ori Epstein, with whom “you felt in the grip of a warm hug”, have all won prizes in solo international competitions. Brought together by a shared deep passion for chamber music and inspired by Mathieu’s possession of the “ex-Adolf Busch” G.B. Guadagnini violin (Turin, 1783), they have been recognized for their achievements and their playing with “incredible verve”.
Since its formation in London in 2012 the trio has developed an extensive performing schedule across Europe’s leading concert halls and festivals. Their recent Wigmore Hall appearance was received to critical acclaim, The Times commenting: “…what impressed most was the group’s effortless musicianship and unity of thought and attack. The threesome even seemed to be breathing in synch.”
The trio started an extensive collaboration with the French record label Alpha Classics, with whom it released a 4-CD project of the complete chamber music for piano and strings by Dvořák. The four CDs were highly praised by the international press. A complete recording of Schubert’s piano trios as well as his Trout Quintet started in 2020 and the next projects will follow immidiately: a CD with trios by Ravel and Schostakovich will be released soon and CDs with all Beethoven's works (including triple concerto) are planned annualy until the 200th anniversary of his death in 2027.
Motivated by their desire to support aspiring young chamber musicians, Mathieu, Omri and Ori, together with Maria Milstein, are the founding members of MuziekHaven: They have acquired a 1695 wooden church on the outskirts of Amsterdam, where they are based and which they are in the process of turning into a chamber music centre dedicated to rehearsal, master classes, recording and performance, and where musicians can reside and work in ideal conditions.
In 2016, the trio received the Kersjesprijs, the Netherlands’ premier chamber music award. Winners of the 2012 Royal Overseas League Competition, the trio went on to win several prizes at international competitions in Germany, UK and Italy. They came off as winner of the NORDMETALL ensemble award 2018 from the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The trio received guidance from distinguished artists such as Eberhard Feltz, Andras Schiff and the Artemis Quartett. As part of their development, the trio were based at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels, where they were the trio in residence.
Recent seasons included a tour of China, Germany, France and the US, where their performance at the Phillips Collection was remarked upon by the Washington Post as possessing ‘remarkable maturity’. The trio collaborated and most notably performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra and Karina Canellakis. Further concert partners were renowned musicians such as Michael Collins, Bruno Giuranna, Gregor Sigl, Naomi Shaham as well as Miguel da Silva, with whom they also recorded. They frequently perform on all major radio stations in Europe.
After concerts at the Alte Oper Frankfurt, the SHMF, the Heidelberger Frühling, Innsbruck and the Konzerthaus Berlin, highlights of the coming seasons include concerts at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, London's Wigmore Hall, repeated performances at the Liederhalle Stuttgart, Munich , Mannheim and Toblach, as well as a tour of the USA.
October 2022
October 2022
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