Longleash brings their uncommon brand of experimental piano trio music to LPR on October 1st to launch the release of their debut album, Passage. The album (out 9/22 on New Focus Recordings) renders progressive new musical identities for the historically traditional instrumentation of violin, cello and piano.

Recorded during an artist residency at EMPAC, Passage features first commercial recordings of innovative piano trios written by an international group of composers launching remarkable careers, including Francesco Filidei, Clara Iannotta, Juan de Dios Magdaleno, Christopher Trapani, and Yukiko Watanabe.

The program will feature selections from the album, as well as solo and duo highlights from their annual composition workshop and festival, The Loretto Project, with guest pianist/composer Nils Vigeland.

The Program:

Corde Vuote – Francesco Filidei
Il colore dell’ombra (Movt. 1) – Clara Iannotta
Reading – Nils Vigeland
Corpo di Terra – Suzanne Farrin
Maquette Brisée – Anthony Cheung
Passing Through, Staying Put – Christopher Trapani

About the Artists:

Longleash (Pala Garcia, violin; John Popham, cello; Renate Rohlfing, piano) is a group with a traditional instrumentation and a progressive identity. Inspired by music with unusual sonic beauty, an inventive streak, and a compelling cultural voice, Longleash extends a love of classical chamber musicianship to the interpretation of contemporary music, crafting performances that are both dynamic and thoughtfully refined. An “expert young trio” praised for its “subtle and meticulous musicianship” (Strad Magazine) and its “technical expertise and expressive innovation” (Feast of Music), Longleash has quickly earned a reputation in the US and abroad for innovative programming, artistic excellence, and new music advocacy. Their forthcoming debut album, Passage, will be released on New Focus Recordings in Fall 2017. Longleash takes its name from Operation Long Leash, a CIA program designed to covertly support and disseminate the work of American avant-garde artists throughout Europe during the Cold War.

The trio balances a full performing schedule with commissioning and recording projects alongside their proprietary summer concert series and composition workshop, The Loretto Project (KY). Performance highlights include concerts at Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), the Ecstatic Music Festival (NY), the Green Music Center (CA), National Sawdust (NY), Scandinavia House (NY), Trondheim International Chamber Music Festival (Norway), and the University of Louisville. Longleash has conducted lectures and workshops at New York University, Manhattan School of Music, University of Nebraska, Ohio University, and Hunter College. The trio’s work on behalf of American composers has been recognized and supported by Chamber Music America, the Alice K. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.