Fowler Center Series
presents the Vienna Piano Trio

Sept. 25, 2007 -- Arkansas State University’s Fowler Center Series continues with a performance by the Vienna Piano Trio, Monday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. This appearance by the trio is the second concert in the Riceland Distinguished Performance Series.

The Washington Post called the Vienna Piano Trio “one of the world's leading ensembles of violin, cello, and piano,” and Strad Magazine named them “the leading trio of the 21st century.”

Frequently described as “youthful” or fresh in their approach to classical repertoire, their youthful look is mirrored by their energy. That energy was described by New York Times critic Allan Kozinn after a 2006 performance at New York City’s Frick Collection, as that of “a college ensemble just discovering the power and passion built into the big repertory works, but with the polish of long acquaintance.”

Known for their ability to make their music accessible to everyone, the trio has released 12 compact discs and has performed in all the major halls of Europe, north America, south America, Japan, and China. Concerts by the ensemble have been repeatedly broadcast on NPR stations, and the trio has appeared live on WGBH Boston and St. Paul Sunday.

The Vienna Piano Trio will open their concert with Piano Trio in E Minor by Franz Joseph Haydn, followed by Smetana’s Piano Trio in G Minor. After the intermission, they will perform one of the greatest piano trios of all time, the Brahms Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major.

Founded in 1988 by violinist Wolfgang Redik, cellist Marcus Trefny, and pianist Stefan Mendl, the original members studied extensively with the Trio di Trieste, the Vienna Haydn Trio, and the LaSalle and Guarneri Quartets. The trio also took lessons from Isaac Stern, Ralph Kirshbaum, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, and the Beaux Arts Trio. In 2001, cellist Matthias Gredler joined the group.

Today’s Vienna Piano Trio consists of Stefan Mendl, piano, Wolfgang Redik, violin, and Matthias Gredler, cello. Stefan Mendl was born in Vienna, Austria in 1966. He began playing the piano at the age of five and had private piano lessons with Prof. Manfred Wagner-Artzt and later, at the Vienna Academy (now University), with Prof. Alexander Jenner. In 1993, Mendl was awarded a "Grand Prix Franz Schubert" by the International Schubert Society for his Schubert recitals during the Wiener Musiksommer. Besides his main work as the pianist of the Vienna Piano Trio, he frequently performs with members of the Hagen Quartet and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Violinist Wolfgang Redik was born in Graz, Austria in 1968. He has studied with professor Klaus Eichholz at the Graz Academy of Music, completing his studies with professor Michael Schnitzler at the University of Music in Vienna. He has also attended numerous master classes, with Isaac Stern, Jaime Laredo. and Pamela Franck. In 1994, he received his diploma with distinction and the “Special Prize of Honour,” awarded by the Austrian Arts and Science Ministry. Next to the work with his ensemble - the Vienna Piano Trio, he has performed with chamber-musicians like Auréle Nicolet, Juri Bashmet and Bruno Canino, among others. Since 1989, he has been teaching at the University of Music in Graz, where he has held a class for violin and chamber music since 1998. He frequently is invited to teach chamber music master classes and work with international youth orchestras. Redik plays a violin made by J.B. Guadagnini in 1772, which is lent to him by the courtesy of the Austrian National Bank.

Cellist Matthias Gredler was born in Munich, Germany, in 1975 into a family of musicians. He received his first cello lessons from his father Edgar Gredler (solo cellist of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester) and went on to study under Heinrich Schiff and Clemens Hagen in Vienna from 1990 to 1998. He continued his musical education under Martin Hornstein and Miklos Perenyi and received further valuable input from such famous musicians as Arto Noras Hatto Bayerle and Valentin Berlinsky. While still a student he was awarded numerous prizes, enabling him to play for an international audience at a young age. Through numerous appearances at renowned festivals, Matthias Gredler made a name for himself both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. In addition, he was a founding member of the Viatores Quartet and most recently held the position of solo cellist with the Munich Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets for all Fowler Center Series events may be purchased by calling 870-972-2781 or 1-888-278-3267, or online at http://tickets.astate.edu. On performance evenings, the box office in Fowler Center opens one hour prior to the event.

Ticket prices are $30 and $20 for adults; $23 and $15 for ASU faculty and staff,
senior adults, and K-12 students; and $10 and $6 for ASU students.

 

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