Classical music performances are not often described with the words “hair flying” and “bodies heaving,” but when given by the acclaimed Eroica Trio, stereotypes of classical musicians and performance are thrown out the window. Combining physical beauty with beauty that is audible and incorporating stage presence, charisma, and pure talent into the mix, the ensemble delivers performances that awe and entertain listeners, all while reworking the typical images associated with classical musicians and their music.
As one of the first all-female chamber ensembles to gain popularity, the Eroica Trio has made their presence known in a world dominated by male groups. Inspired by Beethoven’s passionate Third Symphony, the name Eroica, which means “heroic” in Italian, reflects the fearless, driven attitudes of the Trio’s members toward their art.
The Trio, made up of pianist Erika Nickrenz, violinist Adela Peña and cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio, has gained increasing global acclaim in the past decade. Right after the group’s musical debut at Carnegie Hall in 1997, Angel/EMI Classics Records offered a five-record contract, which was later extended to include three additional recordings.
This contract has resulted in six recordings to date, all of which have been awarded honors including NPR Performance Today’s “Debut Recording of the Year,” numerous Grammy nominations and extensive spots on Billboard’s Top 20 List. The ensemble has also been the recipient of honors not typical of the classical music world. For the release of the Trio’s third recording, Pasión, Grand Marnier created a new cocktail dubbed “the Eroica,” and a Seattle vineyard named one of their vintage wines in honor of the group.
One of the most impressive aspects of the ensemble is that each woman in the Eroica Trio is a top-ranked, award-winning soloist in her own right. Born into a musically inclined family, Nickrenz began playing the piano at six and made her concert debut at the young age of 11. She received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School of Music. Violinist Peña also began her musical journey at a young age, reportedly crying as an infant whenever her parents turned off a recording of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Also receiving her Bachelor and Master degrees at Juilliard, Peña won the school’s Mendelssohn Violin competition as a teenager. Sant’Ambrogio won the all-Julliard Schumann Cello Concerto Competition within weeks of arriving at the school, and continued with a successful solo career, winning a Grammy for her individual performance of Bernstein’s “Arias and Barcarolles.” She was also the subject of a feature-length PBS documentary. The three women, while moving down somewhat separate musical paths, have known each other since childhood. This long history is a remarkable aspect of the group’s story, but it is the individual triumphs and talent of each artist that are undoubtedly what make the overall sound of Eroica so impressive.
An Eroica Trio performance is one sure to entertain and impress. Commenting on the ensemble’s Carnegie Hall performance, the Wall Street Journal printed, “The Trio plays with technical flair, raw, driven energy and high spirits. The ensemble also has plenty of charm and stage presence. It was obvious that all three musicians were having as much fun as the [Carnegie Hall] audience.” The Charleston Gazette has stated, “The Eroica’s artistry is powerful enough that it could play the back of a cereal box and still make it compelling.” The gripping nature of the Trio’s performances attracts the creations of new composers, with each performance season including a world or American premiere of a brand new musical work. This year, for example, will include the European unveiling of “Poets and Prophets,” a trio composed by Mark O’Connor as a colorful tribute to legend Johnny Cash.
The range mastered by the Eroica Trio is vast, with their repertoire spanning 300 years of music. A Trio concert could include anything from the Baroque style of Vivaldi to Brahms to contemporary pieces influenced by jazz, theater, and church music. The group, who interestingly perform Beethoven’s Triple Concerto more frequently than any other trio in the world, does not limit itself to a specific time period, but rather displays its considerable musical capacity through songs from different eras.
In addition to performing on some of the world’s most infamous stages and producing award-winning recordings, the Eroica Trio stands by a commitment to music education. The group gives extra concerts, holds master-classes and performs special shows at schools and colleges throughout the United States. This commitment is what brings the Trio to Madison’s Memorial Union Theater Friday night at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Union Theater Box Office and are $10 for UW students.
The Eroica Trio’s professionalism, energy and obvious talent promises to please audience members, providing entertainment while, with innovation and finesse, changing the way most people view classical musicians and performance.
