In their latest album, La Mer, the Neave Trio embarks on a daring voyage, navigating the vast expanse of French impressionism and romanticism through the intimate lens of chamber music.
Released on June 20, 2025, by Chandos Records, this recording features violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura delving into works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Mel Bonis, and Claude Debussy, reimagined for piano trio by composer Sally Beamish.
At the heart of the album lies Beamish's 2013 arrangement of Debussy's orchestral masterpiece, La Mer. Transforming this richly textured symphonic work into a piece for piano trio is no small feat. Beamish approaches the task not as a mere reduction but as a reinvention, exploring the unique textures and capabilities of strings and piano. The result is an intimate yet expansive interpretation that offers listeners a fresh perspective on Debussy's seascape.
Saint-Saëns and Bonis: Contrasting Currents
Complementing Debussy's work are Saint-Saëns's Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 92, and Bonis's Soir-Matin, Op. 76. Saint-Saëns's trio, a five-movement piece completed after years of revision, showcases the composer's mastery in balancing structural complexity with melodic elegance. Bonis's duo of pieces offers a contrasting atmosphere: "Soir" presents a soulful, expansive melody, while "Matin" surprises with its impressionistic and mysterious qualities
The Neave Trio describes La Mer as "a meditation on the sea—its power, fragility, and timeless mystery." This thematic focus aligns with the ensemble's commitment to curating recordings with rich, conceptual underpinnings, a pursuit that earned them a GRAMMY® nomination for Musical Remembrances in 2022 . Through this album, the trio not only pays homage to the sea's emotional and atmospheric depths but also reflects on humanity's connection to the natural world.
Critical Acclaim and Artistic Vision
Critics have lauded the album for its inventive programming and expressive performances. The Guardian praised the trio's dynamic rendering of Saint-Saëns's trio and highlighted Beamish's arrangement of La Mer as "imaginative and beautifully judged," noting it emerges "more like a new work in its own right than a mere arrangement"
With La Mer, the Neave Trio invites listeners to experience the sea's myriad moods and colors through the nuanced interplay of piano, violin, and cello. It's a journey that reaffirms the ensemble's place at the forefront of chamber music innovation
