Great Barrington — Pianist Gila Goldstein, violinist Xiao-Dong Wang, and cellist Yehuda Hanani will perform a program of piano trios by Shostakovich and Schubert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 15, at Saint James Place.
The program on Sunday consists of two well-known pieces:
- Shostakovich — Trio No. 2
- Schubert — Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major
Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 is known for its intensity and raw emotion. It begins quietly and eerily, then moves through sadness, anger, and dark humor. Written during World War II, the piece seems shaped by grief and irony. Its sharp contrasts and gripping finale keep listeners engaged and deeply moved.
Audiences love Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 2 because of its beautiful melodies, warm sound, and calm, flowing pace. The music feels open and generous, mixing happiness and sadness in a natural way. The piece is known for its long lines, gentle emotion, and the close conversation between instruments. It was one of the few late works Schubert heard performed before his death.
Pianist Gila Goldstein is an Israeli-born concert pianist and educator. She has performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist in North America, Europe, Asia, and Israel, appearing at venues including Lincoln Center and Merkin Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., London’s Southbank Centre, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, and the Musée du Louvre in Paris. She has also performed with such orchestras as the Berliner Symphoniker and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
Goldstein is known for her work with music by Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim and has recorded his complete piano and chamber works. Her recordings also include “Latin American Piano Gems” and “24 Preludes of Dusk and Dawn” on the Albany/Parma label.
She serves on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and has previously taught at Boston University and New York University. Goldstein has given master classes internationally and is the founder and former president of the New York Chapter of the American Liszt Society.
Violinist Xiao-Dong Wang began his musical training at age three with his father, a concertmaster of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and later studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. As a young musician, he won major international competitions, including first prizes at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition and the Wieniawski-Lipinski International Violin Competition.
He has since appeared as a soloist with orchestras in Europe, Asia, and Australia, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. His performances have taken him to venues and festivals such as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Aspen, and Ravinia.
Wang is also active as a chamber musician. He is the founding member and artistic director of the ensemble Concertante and has collaborated with a wide range of performers in chamber settings. His recordings include works by Bartók and Szymanowski for Polygram Records.
Cellist Yehuda Hanani is an Israeli-American performer, teacher, and recording artist known for his wide-ranging career as a soloist and chamber musician. Born in Jerusalem, he came to the United States at age 19 to study with Leonard Rose at the Juilliard School and later worked with Pablo Casals.
Hanani has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, and BBC Welsh Symphony. He has performed in New York at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, Alice Tully Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has been featured at leading festivals around the world.
He has recorded a broad range of repertoire, from the suites of Bach to 20th-century works, earning a Grand Prix du Disque nomination for his recording of the Alkan “Sonate de concert.” Hanani also champions contemporary and lesser-known works and has helped bring attention to composers such as Eduard Franck.
In addition to performing, Hanani is a longtime faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and has taught master classes at institutions worldwide. He is artistic director of Close Encounters With Music.
Saint James Place is at 352 Main Street, Great Barrington. More information and tickets are available here.
