‘Michael Barenboim, Julian Steckel, Elena Bashkirova’

“Strength without pressure, discernment without reserve, humour without coquetry,” wrote the Süddeutsche Zeitung to describe the playing of the German cellist Julian Steckel. Together with violist Michael Barenboim and the internationally celebrated pianist Elena Basjkirova he performs the three Klaviertrios by Johannes Brahms. Opus 8 was the first work that the 21-year-old composer dared to reveal to the world in 1854. Thirty-five years later he revised it drastically: “Gestrüpp zurückgeschnitten” [weeding], he said. This evening’s star performers give their own interpretation of the work.