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Trio con Brio Copenhagen

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Trio con Brio Copenhagen © Nikolaj Lund

Recognized as one of the world’s finest piano trios, the Trio con Brio Copenhagen’s multifaceted members are not only performing artists who tour extensively, but also esteemed recording artists, artistic directors and educators. The Trio appears regularly at the world’s leading venues and concert series, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal, the Concertgebouw, and more. Trio con Brio is a recipient of the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Award, one of Denmark’s most prestigious prizes.

Trio con Brio Copenhagen is a fusion of two overlapping ’musical pairs’: two sisters, violinist Soo-Jin Hong and cellist Soo-Kyung Hong, are from South Korea; pianist Jens Elvekjær, Soo-Kyung’s spouse, is from Denmark. Founded at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna in 1999, the Trio is now based in Copenhagen and is recognized for its exceptional musicianship, fresh approach to the core repertoire, adventurous programming, and a commitment to bringing music to young people through their highly creative concerts.

The ensemble’s recordings have received tremendous critical acclaim. The latest album of Shostakovich and Arensky trios (Orchid Classics) won the German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik), was a Gramophone Editor’s Choice and was also singled out by BBC Music Magazine as a Chamber Choice of the month. An album featuring the complete Beethoven piano trios (Orchid Classics) garnered broad, enthusiastic praise from critics and fans alike, with the BBC Music Magazine calling it ’a triumph’. The Trio has also recorded the work of leading Scandinavian composers, including Per Nørgård, Bent Sørensen and Sven-David Sandström, who have written works for the group.

The members of Trio con Brio Copenhagen serve as artistic directors of the annual festival, Chamber Music at Lundsgaard, in Kerteminde, and the Hellerup Chamber Music Society in Copenhagen.

Soo-Jin Hong plays an Andrea Guarneri violin, Soo-Kyung Hong plays a Grancino cello, and Jens Elvekjær is Denmark’s first Steinway Artist.

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