Trio Alphea - Press

PRESENTATION     PROGRAMMES      DIARY      DISCOGRAPHY     VIDEOS

13 June 2026
Les étonnantes “Variations Goldberg” du trio Alphea
Frédérick Casadesus

The Goldberg Variations transcribed for string trio? The Alphea Trio have done just that, offering us an unconventional and moving interpretation of this masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach.
When this recording first came to our attention, let’s be frank, we were met with scepticism. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations played by a trio of violin, cello and viola? What next? Why not the Symphonie fantastique on the accordion, or the Ring Cycle on the harp? We thought the artists were taking the unconventional route a bit too far, that they no longer knew how to set themselves apart. A misguided reaction on the part of those who believe themselves to be the guardians of authentic knowledge and who, in that fatal condition of the narrow-minded, lapse into pedantry. ‘There are numerous adaptations of the Goldberg Variations,’ observes musicologist Laurence Le Diagon-Jacquin in the booklet accompanying the double album. Over time, the versions have multiplied, such as Busoni’s version for solo piano, which unhesitatingly cuts out sections and adds a coda of his own devising, whilst Max Reger offers a version for two pianos. Jacques Loussier’s trio provides a fine example of a jazz-style reworking. ”

So, we listened to this recording and found ourselves not only sheepish for having been so foolish, but also delighted to discover the Goldberg Variations in a whole new light. It is true that the aria does not sound as we are used to: the radical simplicity of the harpsichord – or, in Busoni’s version, the piano – gives way to a dialogue whose colour is more reminiscent of chamber music. What’s wrong with that? It’s such a pleasure. A musical stroll, a playful exchange in the best sense of the word – the Alphea Trio know exactly how to offer us a non-conformist and sensual escape.

18 July 2026
« TRIO ALPHEA » : VARIATIONS GOLDBERG
Stéphane Loison

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations is one of his most frequently recorded works. This composition, usually performed on the harpsichord or organ, is very often played on the modern piano. For so-called Bach purists, Glenn Gould’s recordings of the variations are the gold standard! Oh really, so were they written for the piano? What do Hantaï, Taylor, Rannou, Rousset and Staier think?… It is rarer to hear them performed on other instruments. One can find arrangements for harp, performed by guitar duos, as a quartet, with orchestra, in jazz versions and as string trios. The Alphea Trio presents its version, recorded for Klarté – Klarté KLA 202 – The musicians here use Baroque bows, which offer a clearer sound and a beautiful tone that suits the work’s identity as Baroque chamber music. They possess a certain charm in their unconventional approach, which can only please us—that is our credo. One can appreciate here the way in which they have been arranged and recorded.

Bach possesses such creative power that, however he is played, there will always be that unchanging essence of this immense composer! We must admit – shame on us, you Baroque purists – that this sort of arrangement gives us more pleasure than the various piano versions. The interplay between the musicians, the harmony between the instruments, and the fluidity all make this original interpretation fascinating and full of panache. The pieces were written for two keyboards; here we have three instruments, so we’re certainly better off, aren’t we! Here’s a fine ensemble, a fine album and, to top it all off, a lovely cover!

2 September 2026

VARIATIONS GOLDBERG DE JEAN SÉBASTIAN BACH. INCRÉDULE VERSION ! LABEL KLARTHE.

Serge Alexandre
……
…………There are countless recordings of the Goldberg Variations, which have become an undisputed classic over the years. One could almost write a listening guide based on the different interpretations. I keep close to hand those by Pierre Hantai, Wanda Landowska, then Glenn Gould and Konstantin Lifschitz… It must be said that the music of J. S. Bach and some of his sons is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for any musician or composer. J. S. Bach’s influence runs through the entire history of music from the 18th century to the present day. As for string trios, I’ve always enjoyed the versions recorded by the Amati Trio and the Goldberg Trio. This new recording by musicians from Marseille has really shaken me up and stirred my emotions.
As is often the case with this label of excellence, the standard of the sound recording is astonishing. Olivier Marzullo is the driving force behind it. Here, he is entirely at the service of this timeless and unclassifiable work. He has succeeded in capturing the astonishing and ceaseless dialogue between the three musicians who make up this remarkable ensemble. Each performer uses Baroque bows here, and this is a delight to be savoured without restraint. Their passion for the composer shines through in every variation.
The Goldberg Variations appear to have been composed in the 1740s for a double-manual harpsichord. They represent a musical Everest, combining numerous musical forms. They display a rare harmonic palette. They stand as a manifesto of the art of counterpoint, displaying a level of virtuosity that was rare for the time. Dmitry Sitkovetsky, violinist and conductor, has produced a version for string orchestra that I adore.
The musicians from Marseille offer us here a transcription that closely mirrors the musical gesture of the original double-manual harpsichord. The spirit of the work is transcended here. One savours every note. Understatement, humility and creative flair are the keys to this transcription. This reworking is an emotional jolt that will astonish many. The string trio emerges from it magnified. There is a modesty and sincerity in the approach to J.S. Bach’s work that is hard to find elsewhere. It is a world apart. It is far more than just another recording of a classic from the history of music. It is something else entirely. An ideal recording to mark the start of the new term and to help you forget all the little worries of everyday life. A window onto purity and serenity! To be listened to without restraint and played here and elsewhere…

9 September 2026

De Berlin au Paradis, departing at 9.45 am

Emilie Munera