Behind the Music: Refreshing Beethoven, Discovering Reger

Even when our concert calendar pauses, the life of a trio continues in rehearsal. This winter, the Veles Ensemble has been immersed in two parallel journeys: revisiting the timeless Beethoven trios and venturing into the rich, intricate world of Max Reger’s Trio in D minor, Op. 77b.

Working on Beethoven feels like returning to a beloved home. These trios are part of our shared musical DNA, yet each time we revisit them, new details emerge — a phrase that suddenly feels more conversational, a balance that shifts with fresh ears. Refreshing Beethoven is not about polishing what we already know, but about rediscovering the vitality that makes his music endlessly alive.

Reger, by contrast, is a new landscape for us. His trio is dense, layered, and full of unexpected turns. It demands patience and precision, but also courage: to let the music breathe, to find clarity within its complexity, and to trust that the architecture will reveal itself through persistence.

Behind the notes lies the constant trio challenge: balance and tuning. Three voices, each with its own character, must blend without losing individuality. Every rehearsal becomes a negotiation — sometimes playful, sometimes intense, always rewarding. And yes, we admit it: our “negotiations” occasionally sound more like arguments. But in truth, those spirited debates are part of the fun. They remind us that music is not just harmony of sound, but also of personalities — and that a little disagreement often leads to deeper understanding.

For us, rehearsal is not just preparation for performance; it is discovery. It is where music becomes conversation, where differences turn into dialogue, and where the trio finds its collective voice. As we look ahead to sharing these works in our 2026 season, we invite you to imagine this journey — the hidden hours where balance, tuning, and personality converge to bring music to life.

Leighton Buzzard Concert Reflections

We recently returned from a rewarding evening of chamber music at the Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, hosted by the Leighton Buzzard Music Society. The programme featured works by Haydn, Beethoven, Kodály, and Dohnányi—each offering a distinct expressive world, and together forming a rich narrative arc for the evening.

Although all four composers lived and worked within the cultural sphere of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the stylistic breadth of their music is striking. Haydn’s clarity and formal invention laid the groundwork for Beethoven’s more expansive and dramatic language, while Kodály and Dohnányi—writing over a century later—drew on Hungarian folk traditions and late Romantic idioms in markedly different ways. The programme offered a glimpse into how composers shaped and reshaped chamber music within a shared geopolitical context, yet with distinct artistic priorities.

This concert marked the final performance in our autumn series, and we now turn our attention to upcoming programmes for the winter and spring. These will include further exploration of twentieth-century repertoire and new collaborations that we look forward to sharing soon.

Our thanks to the organisers and to everyone who joined us in Leighton Buzzard. We left the hall uplifted—and still humming.

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Veles Ensemble: A New Chapter Begins

As the seasons shift, so too does the life of an ensemble. We’re writing today with both gratitude and excitement to share a change in our trio’s lineup.

After many years of beautiful collaboration, Hartmut Richter will be moving to Canada to begin a new chapter in his life and career. His artistry, dedication, and musical sensitivity have shaped the sound and spirit of Veles Ensemble in profound ways. We are deeply thankful for the journey we’ve shared with him—from intimate recitals to ambitious recordings—and we wish him all the very best in this new adventure. Hartmut will remain our honorary member, and his legacy within the ensemble will always be cherished.

Stepping into the role of violinist is Adriana Cristea, whose expressive playing and thoughtful musicianship bring a fresh energy to our ensemble. Adriana has already joined us in rehearsal and performance, and we’re thrilled by the musical conversations unfolding between us. Her approach is both intuitive and refined, and we look forward to exploring new repertoire and continuing our artistic growth together.

Transitions like these are never simple, but they are part of the living nature of chamber music. We remain committed to the values that define Veles Ensemble: depth, dialogue, and a shared love of the classical tradition.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming concerts, where Adriana will make her debut as our new violinist.

Boccherini and Charlo

We recorded Luigi Boccherini’s String Trio Op. 14 No. 4 and Evva’s arrangement of a fiery tango: Charlo’s El viejo vals.

Luigi Boccherini – Trio Op. 14 No. 4 in D Major, G. 98, composed in 1772.

Boccherini, born in Italy and an acclaimed cellist, had just entered the employment of Infante Luis Antonio of Spain in Madrid in 1770 (the younger brother of King Charles III of Spain). The newfound freedoms of this patronage seem to be reflected in the music, which is full of joy, elegance and colourful ideas.

Charlo (Carlos José Pérez) – “El viejo vals”

arranged for string trio by Evva Mizerska

ORF Radio Austria – Wellesz CD presentation

We’re exicted for our new Egon Wellesz chamber music CD to be presented on Austrian radio ORF. You can listen to it here:

Österreichischer Expressionismus im Exil | DI | 20 06 2023 | 11:30 – oe1.ORF.at

Oxford University Concert/Masterclass

We are proud to perform in honour of Prof. Bojan Bujic’s birthday next Monday, February 27th at the University of Oxford. Prof. Bujic was a student of Egon Wellesz, whose late chamber music works we recorded recently on #ToccataClassics, hence Egon Wellesz’ music will be part of the programme!

In the afternoon, we will hold a chamber music masterclass at the Faculty of Music @Oxford University:

Masterclass with the Veles Ensemble | Faculty of Music (ox.ac.uk)

Scotland Tour February 2023

We had a fantastic time touring the Scottish Highlands last week. Playing Mozart’s Divertimento KV563, Leo Weiner’s string trio in G minor, Op. 6, Harti’s trio arrangement of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Oberek and other little gems.

Thanks to the wonderful audiences and lovely hosts!