Trio Lyra

Photo by GADI HOZ Photographics Inc.

Mark Childs ~ Viola     Suzanne Shulman ~ Flute     Erica Goodman ~ Harp

 

From their first performance of the Debussy Sonate in 1978, the members of Trio Lyra have enjoyed a mutual devotion to beauty and perfection in musical expression which is instantly communicated to their audiences. Trio Lyra’s repertoire ranges from Baroque to the best of today’s composers. They have commissioned and premiered major new works from six of Canada’s finest composers – Ben Steinberg, Srul Irving Glick, Milton Barnes, Harry Freedman, Andrew MacDonald and Marjan Mozetich.

The nature of this combination of instruments has inspired a particularly rich selection of French repertoire, and Trio Lyra has been featured in all-French programs broadcast by the French CBC. The 1994-95 season saw tours in Quebec, Ontario and the United States with broadcasts on both the French and English national CBC networks, and in 1996 the trio appeared  at the Sixth World  Harp Congress in Seattle, Washington.

Trio Lyra’s debut CD, Music of Ravel, Debussy and Fauré, was released in September, 1997 on Opening Day Recordings, catalogue #9309, and includes the world premiere recording of the Fauré-Salzedo Dolly, Op. 56. Their second CD, Harbord Street, was released in the spring of 1999, and includes world premiere recordings of four  commissioned works -- Milton Barnes' Harbord Street, Srul Irving Glick's Trio for flute, viola and harp, Harry Freedman's Touchpoints and Andrew P. MacDonald's Pleiades Variations, Op. 45.

1999-00 also saw concerts in Texas, Michigan, the Festival of the Sound, the Muskoka Lakes Festival, British Columbia and the Yukon. Concerts in 2000-2001 included Haliburton, Meadville, PA., Owen Sound, a tour to Atlantic Canada and concerts in Port Perry and Barrie. The new Mozetich work had its premiere at Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario, October 24, 2002, and Trio Lyra's third CD, Lyra Hébraïque, Music of Jewish Composers, was released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the summer of 2003. The fourth CD, Mosaics, featuring music from Mozart to Mozetich was released in October, 2004.

Highlights of the 2005 and 2006 seasons were the premiere of a new Glenn Buhr work at the 34^th International Viola Congress in Montreal, the Trio’s fourth appearance at Meadville College in Pennsylvania, and performances at the Festival of the Sound and the new Norfolk Fall Festival.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

 

Released October 19, 2004:

“Since its founding in 1978, Canada’s Trio Lyra has devotedly gone about the business of making chamber music at a high level...it has always been worth seeking out the threesome’s concerts and discs…[Mosaics] adds a worthy title to the Marquis catalogue”

William Littler, The Toronto Star, February 10, 2005

 

“A wonderful album of music for the trio of flute, viola and harp. There's everything from a transcription of a Mozart sonata to a brand new work by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich. The Cesar Cui pieces are delightful. All of the music on the album is friendly to the listener…you won't want to miss these performances. Trio Lyra is one of the world's best, and their work is always exciting and interesting.”

The Harp Connection

Listen to samples of all the tracks for “Mosaics” here

 

 

Listen to samples of all the tracks for “Trio Lyra – Ravel, Debussy, Fauré” here

Listen to samples of all the tracks for “Harbord Street” here

Listen to samples of all the tracks for Lyra Hébraïque, Music of Jewish Composers here

 

 

Available from all internet classical CD sources and
most better classical record stores in the United States and Canada

To order directly from Trio Lyra, click here

Harbord Street:

“All of the music here is highly colorful and completely easy on the listener's ear...This is all lovely music beautifully performed and recorded. Worth a listen”

Fanfare Magazine

“These three are strong individual musicians, come together out of a love for chamber music, and they play like it. The music here is all Canadian, and all world premiere recordings; covers a wide range of styles and moods, all carefully and capably handled. And the recording is bright, clear and open. Five stars. ”

“Sound Advice” with Rick Phillips, CBC Radio

“The musicians’ playing is impeccable throughout, revelling in the warm, evocative combination of these instruments...The recorded sound is gorgeous, with a full, natural bloom and superb balance.”

Opus Magazine

Trio Lyra: Ravel, Debussy, Fauré:

“Overall this is an excellent recording. All the playing is first-rate, and the recording is excellently engineered to allow interesting harp string effects to come through while eliminating distracting pedal sounds.”

The American Record Guide

 “This is an altogether charming program of early 20th-century French music, performed with grace and subtlety... This lovely performance (of the Debussy Sonate) is especially notable for Shulman’s warm-toned flute, Goodman’s cascading harp scales...and for the exuberant mood of the finale...(Children’s Corner) a superb showcase for Goodman’s elegant harp playing...fine performance by Trio Lyra...A wonderful disk. Performance: 5 stars.”

Classical Music Magazine

Chosen by Elaine Kennedy, KUHF-FM's "love doctor," as one of her 10 favorite romantic discs.

LYRA HEBRAIQUE - Music of Jewish Composers

“This is a unique collection of music for a colorful combination of instruments. All of the pieces have pleasant melodies and harmonies, even though the composers draw their inspiration from concrete musical influences like jazz, chant, and Israeli songs, as well as sensual memories of summer days and the expectation of a summer wedding. The Trio Lyra perform with a high level of commitment and intensity They have refined control of intonation and harmonics, even in difficult passages. They always support each other's musical ideas with balanced dynamics and clear articulation.”

                                                American Record Guide

 

“Rapture!”                             La Scena Musicale, Montreal

 

“Three of Canada's leading chamber musicians…An engaging disc.”

                                                      William Littler, The Toronto Star

 

“Trio Lyra is up to its usual high standard…Five stars!”

                                                             Rick Phillips, CBC Radio

 

For booking inquiries, please email to TrioLyra@yahoo.ca

 For the Trio Lyra brochure, click here:
lyrabro.pdf

For a high-res photo, click here:

(To download, right-click and choose “Save Target As”)
Trio Lyra photo

 

This page was last updated on December 6, 2008

Comments may be emailed to triolyra@yahoo.ca

(4ga)