By Lyn Bronson

In referring to the genre of the string quartet, string players have been known to remark, “second violinists are a dime a dozen,” and in truth, the term “playing second fiddle” long ago entered our lexicon as a catchword for someone outshined by another. Accordingly, the genre of the string trio has one powerful asset not enjoyed by the string quartet: no one has to play second fiddle, and all three parts are pretty much equally important. The down side is that the repertoire for the string quartet vastly outnumbers the repertoire for the string trio, so professional string trios are constantly looking for neglected works from the past or are commissioning new works for their future.

The Janaki (pronounced “YAN-a-KYE) Trio, consisting of violist Katie Kadarauch, violinist Serena McKinney and cellist Arnold Choi, was on the Monterey Peninsula this week to perform at Sunset Center for the Carmel Music Society’s subscription audience on Wednesday evening. Actually, the trio had given a private concert the previous evening at the lovely and spacious Pebble Beach home of Jerry and Christine Baker for an invited audience of the Carmel Music Society’s donors. Hearing the same three musicians perform some of the same works in two very different venues was a very revealing experience.

Performing in a private home allowed the sonorities produced by these fantastic young musicians to resonate so powerfully that you were enveloped and drawn intimately into the music, creating in the process a vitality and immediacy that was totally compelling. Performing at Sunset Center (capacity 730) for a small audience of approximately 200 was an entirely different experience, with the sound seeming more distant and less compelling. What we have learned in the past few years is that the non plus ultra of concert venues for ensemble music on the Monterey Peninsula is without question All Saints Church in Carmel, whose box-like structure, similar to some of the finest concert halls in Europe, has fabulous acoustics permitting small string ensembles to sound like powerful string orchestras.

Having heard the Janaki Trio the previous evening in the more intimate setting served to diminish somewhat its impact at Sunset Center. However, nothing can diminish the essential qualities of these fine players; it was just that we had to strain a little harder to hear them. Each of the three is a virtuoso of a very high order and their interaction together as an ensemble was impressive.

The novelties of the evening were a neglected work, a trio by one of Russia’s most respected nineteenth century theorists and composers, Sergei Taneyev, and a new piece composed for the Trio by Capitola composer Jason Barabba. The Taneyev String Trio was a beautifully crafted work that although by a Russian composer, had none of the Russian flavor of Mussorgsky, Glazunov or Balakirev and looked more westward than to Russian sources. It received on this occasion a fine performance indeed.

About the String Trio by Jason Barabba, there was a lot going on during its frenetic 16 minute duration, but I wasn’t convinced that the piece was as interesting as the composer’s program notes. Mr. Barabba was there in the flesh and spoke for a few moments to the audience.

The remainder of the concert was devoted to a one movement string trio by Schubert, and the Beethoven String Trio in G Major, Op. 9, No. 1, that ended the evening’s concert. The Janaki Trio’s performance of the Beethoven was solid and masterful.

Violist Katie Kadarauch has been an impressive presence on the Monterey Peninsula recently, having been the Carmel Music Society’s winner two years ago of its Instrumental competition, and a star performer on the Society’s regular subscription series last year. Violinist Serena McKinney is a very strong and compelling artist and cellist Arnold Choi was totally beguiling with his rich and lovely sound. These three young musicians play wonderfully well together, and I hope they will be returning here for future engagements.

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