Amelia Piano Trio Reviews
“Daring, lively, and completely engrossing.” —Seattle Times
“Exuded a real sense of command.” —The New York Times
“Careful attention to balance, tonal beauty, and teamwork.” —Strad Magazine
“Unrelenting passion.” —The Birmingham News
“The grace and intensity of the singing lines, the emotional intensity and truth of all the playing (yet without any breach of decorum or style).” —San Diego Reader
“Played with authority and conviction ... remarkable.” —Strings Magazine
“Passion, sweep, and energy.” —Ann Arbor News
“Big, bold, direct and unself-conscious.” —Washington Post
“With the disbanding of the long-standing, pioneering Beaux Arts Piano Trio in 2008, it was heartening to hear a wonderful ensemble to be added to the roster of the well-established Eroica Trio and Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio ... Violinist Kreston said she followed up reports of Chopin’s alluding to replacing the violin part with a viola ... Chopin wrote that he should have written the violin part for viola 'as the first string predominates in the violin and in my trio is used hardly at all. The viola would, I think, accord better with the cello.' Before Kreston joined the Amelia Trio, she played viola in a string quartet. Her ease with the viola has led her to take up Chopin’s suggestion . . . The Amelia Trio’s performance was a revelation.”
—Cultural Voice of North Carolina
“SAN JOSE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY brought its 2011-2012 season to a glorious conclusion Friday, May 4, with the appearance of the Amelia Piano Trio … Crisp attacks and canny articulation characterized every measure of the Amelia’s performance, a sense of balanced ensemble in which we could plainly hear the sheer enjoyment each member’s contribution brings to the others ... We noted, quite soon, the voluptuous quality of Mr. Duckles’ cello ... Ms. Kreston’s violin, too, could soar most eloquently … The Finale: Presto enjoyed thoroughly plastic rhythms and an unbuttoned humor quite in keeping with Beethoven’s natural irreverence and confidence.”
—classicalmusicguide.com