Childhood friends Boris Borgolotto and Marc Girard Garcia wanted to start a classical music band, and a chance encounter with American pianist Ian Barber led to the creation of Trio Zadig. Featuring Boris on the violin and Marc on the cello, the trio plays everything from classical music from the 18th century, to tunes by current living composers. The ensemble performs their debut gig in Bengaluru this week. We speak to the band about their music and the genre of classical music today
How did the band get together?
Ian: Boris and Marc knew each other since childhood and grew up playing music together. I met them very spontaneously in Paris five years ago, and later received a call from Boris saying that they were looking for a pianist to start a group together. I had been in France for a year and wasn’t sure if I was going to stay but thought we could try and see. They came up to my small apartment in Paris and we tried playing some music together. It worked right away (which is rare!) and we’ve been playing together almost every day since.
What kind of classical background do you come with?
Boris: We are all from conservatories of music in our respective countries and also abroad. Ian studied at the Jacob School of Music, in Bloomington USA with the legendary Andre Watts, Marc studied at the prestigious Paris Conservatory, and so did I. As a piano trio, we were in residency at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and more recently, at the Reina Sofia Music School with Günter Pichler, from the most iconic string quartet, Alban Berg.
Tell us a little more about your music.
Ian: We play “Classical” music ranging from Haydn who lived in the 18th Century to current living composers who write in the classical style. It’s really rewarding for us to be able to play this older music and still see how it can really touch and move people today. I suppose it’s a little like going to see a Shakespeare play, such as Romeo and Juliet and still feeling moved even though it was written just before the 17th century. We’re like the actors trying to communicate the meaning of the piece of music to people today.
At the performance, we’ll play a Trio by Haydn first which is more “classical” and the last movement of the work is written in a Hungarian Gypsy style. Then we play a Trio by Ravel, here the music is a little like looking at a painting by a French Impressionist artist where the emotions transmitted are like colours blended together, almost like in a dream. We finish with the 2nd Trio by Mendelssohn. This is a much more romantic, passionate and emotional work. I hope people enjoy it!
What can we expect from the set list at the gig?
Marc: We propose a very contrasting program between classical style, romantic and French music from the beginning of the 20th century.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Ian: We have so many different sources of inspiration. Sometimes, it can be as simple as listening to a great musician from the past, such as the violinist Heifetz or a pianist like Sviatoslav Richter, but sometimes it’s less obvious, like waking in nature or going to a museum, even listening to other musical styles such as jazz or even music from other countries can be a big inspiration. With traditional Indian music, for example, I’m amazed and inspired by the rhythm and complexity of it!
What is the future of classical music?
Marc: The genre of classical music has a great future, I believe! We have to adapt the format of the classical concert to the actual time and the change of lifestyle, and we have to always bring music to younger generations so they can be sensitive to the emotion that the music brings out.
This is your first time in India. What are you looking forward to?
Marc: It is our first time in India! And we are very excited about it!! We are very much looking forward to discovering the culture and the lifestyle, and to meet people. It will be very interesting to discover how people react and appreciate classical music. We think that music is a universal language so I’m sure they’ll love it! We are also very much looking forward to the amazing food.
Entry free.October 29, 6.30 pm. At Alliance Francaise, Vasanth Nagar
- Anagha M
anagha@newindianexpress.com
@anaghzzz