biographics

Basel, the town of classical Humanism as well as the town of Bartók, Stravinsky and Georg Kreisler, is an ideal breeding-ground for musical idealists. A town where30 steps will take you from the Schola Cantorum's tinkling virginals to the Electronic Studio's most hermetic creations clearly requires music-making to include constant rediscovery.

Curiosity about the "luxury liner" life of the piano trio drew three people together in April 1993 - their various histories leading to a common enthusiasm. First forays into the great repertoire showed they possessed the skill and enthusiasm to do this professionally. One thing led to another: naturally, they were curious about composers of their own generation - naturally, they looked around Central Europe, and discovered kindred spirits in Bratislava, Cracow and Budapest, as well as a whole forgotten world of playful music - and naturally, they immediately decided against the endless round of competitions where the same old warhorses are trotted out before a bored jury.

They discovered Piazzolla and went for him in a big way, wrestled energetically and ironically with Kagel, and had fun with Haydn and Ives. Their shelves hold some 300 scores, and they have read them all. 100 of these have been harnessed and now ride around the world with the Trio Animæ - giving joy to audiences who already consider them essential to their enjoyment ... and annoying some agents still sceptical of the Trio's future or reputation...