Joanjo Albinyana
Joan Borràs David Johnstone
‘B3 CLASSIC’
CLARINET, CELLO AND PIANO TRIO
Since its formation in 1992 this trio of clarinet, cello and piano has arrived to be one of the most stable, consolidated and well-known ensembles of this kind in Europe, and a reference in the present day musical panorama in Spain. “B3 Classic” draw attention to the history of the chamber music repertoire for these three instruments (they undertake valuable and creative investigative work) as well as involving itself in the more contemporary creation. The personal style of B3 Classic lays emphasis on an unusual sound combination by combining the piano with a string instrument (the cello) and a wind instrument (the clarinet), and the group actively promote the full history, largely unknown, of the chamber music repertoire for these three instruments, as well as inspiring contemporary composition. The group initially received the support and guidance of international figures such as Boris Bermann, Jesse Levine, Carles Riera and John McCabe CBE. The public acknowledgement of their level started in 1995, when they participated in a recording with the ‘La Caixa’ Foundation and the record label ‘Opus 111’ of Paris. Since then they have given regular concerts across all Spain and in other countries of the European Union. The trio ‘B3 Classic’ offers the public an ample repertoire: individual performances featuring the outstanding works of the repertoire, special ‘theme’ concerts, special composer dedication concerts, well-conceived concerts put together as a series or cycle, or educational concerts (in Spanish and English).
The interpretations of the ‘B3 Classic’ trio are characterized by a constant and conscious search of well-balanced criteria united with a historically sensitive vision, together with the creative and expressive impulses which portray their performances.
B3 Classic received important success in the International Music Competition ‘Pierre Lantier’ of Paris where they were awarded a Grand Prix in 1997. In 1998 they visit Great Britain for the first time where concerts included the Cheltenham International Music Festival, and they also give the world premiere of the Suite “The World of the Sea” of Rodney Newton in London. In Spain they have given many national and international premieres including the ‘Sonata for Trio’ by John McCabe C.B.E., the trio Op.45 and the Serenade Op.73 of Robert Kahn, the trio in Eb Major by Adelbert Gyrowetz, the gran trio of Anton Eberl, the trio of Archduke Rudolf, and the trio ‘Autumn Journeys’ by Martín Zalba (and other pieces by him). Recently the group gave the world premiere of the ‘English Suite’ by Jonathan S. FeBland in Carcassonne (France) and also his ‘Jazz Miniature Suite’ in Valencia (Spain), and the ‘Adagio’ of Jorge Grundmann in Madrid.
The solid formation and experience of the trio ‘B3 classic’ has led them to become a firm part of the Spanish musical panorama by way of regular concerts and recitals booked by a diversity of public and private organizations. B3 Classic have recorded for Spanish National Radio (RNE Radio Clásica), Nice International Festival (France), The London Film Institute, Köln Rundfunk, Association Mozart Productions (France), Arlu Discos (Madrid), Julian Roberts Productions (Great Britain), four programmes of the series ‘Nocturnos’ for television ‘Tele 5’ (Spain), and a series of four concerts ‘The change of century in chamber music’ for National Spanish Television (TVE). At the present time they are contracted to make a series of CDs around the central theme ‘Chamber Music Discoveries’ produced by Warner Music Spain. The launch of the first CD was in December 2007, and all copies have been distributed in only two months, and in the Spanish iTunes this disc is frequently in the ‘top 10’ downloads of classical music (Spring 2008). The second disc – ‘New Chamber Music Discoveries – promises to follow suit.
Their versatility shows itself in original compositions by each member and high quality transcriptions made collectively by the artists of the group – examples include works such as ‘Trio Concertante’ on West Side Story (Bernstein/B3 Classic) or ‘Popular Miniature Suite’ on ‘Porgy and Bess’ (Gershwin/B3 Classic). They are also open to other musical fields – for example, their participation in the festival “Actual” of Logroño (Spain), their collective work together on the C-D ‘Entre Dos Mundos’ with the ‘Swinging Strings’ of the Basque National Orchestra (San Sebastian), or the concerts with the multi-stylistic guitarist Gualberto of Seville. The group has a close involvement with the Foundation ‘Non Profit Music’ (Madrid). Their notable career together has brought them accolades such as what the prestigious Spanish classical music magazine Ritmo said of them: “Not only do they enjoy making music together but the artistic results are brilliant”.
Joan Borràs – Clarinete
David Johnstone – Violoncello
Juan José Albinyana – Piano
WEB: www.b3classic.com
E-mail: david@b3classic.com or info@johnstone-music.com