The Euritmos Ensemble from Italy presented the 16th concert in this edition with three works in three different idioms. They excelled in all three.

The first work was by the late Romantic composer Max Bruch. His Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 83 (1910) is one of his most significant in the field of chamber music. All but one of the pieces are in a minor key, the exception being n.7, marked as Andante vivace ma non troppo.

The general mood is a relaxed one with the piano being busy throughout the whole set. The other instruments were evenly balanced with many opportunities to shine in long passages with piano. The viola had just slightly more of this. Very seldom did they perform as a trio. The warmth of tone and articulation remained throughout the work. which ended serenely and faded away as if “shyly”.

Most recent of the three works were Canti, Op.88 by Joseph Vella (1942-2018), to whom all editions of this Festival have been dedicated ever since that of 2018. He finished this very charming and attractive, very personal work working 1997, twenty-one years and a few days before his untimely death.

Canti is in two movements and originally scored for piano, clarinet and violoncello. Here it was performed in an arrangement which replaced the violoncello with the viola.

The first movement Andante has the three instruments bringing out to the fore their singing qualities. There is an attractive warm theme which surfaces here and there like a running thread.

Nocturne has a definitely Mediterranean tinge to it. The atmosphere is built indirectly on a still recognisable theme associated with it. However it appears very well-disguised without making it sound hackneyed. I think think this is one of Vella’s most attractive chamber pieces.

Finally Mozart’s “Kegelstatt” Trio for Piano, Viola and Clarinet in E flat Major, K. 498, (1786).This was the third time that this work was performed during this Festival. However only this evening was it performed as Mozart scored it. The Primrose ( 2 violas) and pianist

Pascal Mantin performed it on 17 June (3rd concert) and on June 26 for string trio by the Pro Arte Trio Prague (11th concert). This speaks for the great popularity of this work.

This rendering of the work in it’s original form felt like one continuous song. From the unusual Andante beginning and the wonderful Minuet there was song and charm all over the place. All this Euritmos Ensemble projected with finesse, balance and great understanding the typical Mozartian genius making great music seem simple. Which really it is not. The performance extended this atmosphere into the final Allgero closing this superbly magical pioneering work.

Albert George Storace.