2020 Mountain View Classical Music Season Beethoven Chamber Music Lecture-Recital: “Beethoven’s Piano Trios – The Art of Equilibrium”

At concerts, we hear musicians’ voices through their instruments—yet rarely do we glimpse their minds. This lecture-recital invites artists to step beyond the stage, sharing stories and insights between live performances of Beethoven’s works.  

Host & Musical Demonstration: DNA Trio      Moderator: Jin Jing

Host of Classical Meow on Shenzhen Radio 971, Senior Producer & Recording Engineer  

Why Beethoven’s Piano Trios?

Like the symphony, the piano trio evolved through three titans: Haydn defined its form, Mozart expanded its expressive scope, and Beethoven elevated it to sublime maturity.  

A piano trio—piano, violin, cello—is a delicate interplay of contrasts. The piano’s versatility unlocks infinite colors, yet its dominance risks overshadowing the strings. Achieving equilibrium—honoring each instrument’s voice while forging unity—demands both compositional genius and interpretive mastery.  

Beethoven penned over a dozen piano trios, but why do the "Ghost" and "Archduke" trios reign supreme?  And what secrets lie within his rarely explored Symphony No. 2, the only symphony he adapted for trio?  

The DNA Trio unravels these mysteries through performance and dialogue.  

DNA Trio  

Formed in 2005, the DNA Trio comprises three lifelong collaborators whose bond began at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music. With 15 years of synergy, they stand among China’s most seasoned chamber ensembles.

Piano: Zhang Jialin  

Renowned vocal coaching expert, music columnist, and Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music.  

Violin: Zhang Jingye

Faculty at Central Conservatory of Music, Guest Lecturer at Queens College (CUNY), Concertmaster of Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of Beijing Modern Music Festival.  

Cello: Song Zhao  

A trailblazer straddling classical, experimental, and cross-disciplinary arts—from solo recitals and theater to film scores and avant-garde installations.