Heralding from the USA the Cret Trio visit Newton Abbot’s Courtenay Centre on October 19 to present a concert of considerable interest with works stretching across three centuries.

Comprising David Yang , Clancy Newman and Stephanie Zyzak, the trio was formed to explore masterpieces in the relatively unheralded string trio repertoire. Without doubt, theirs will be a concert to be reckoned with.

The first half starts with a bang: Arnold Schoenberg (1874 – 1951) String Trio, Opus 45. Their second piece is a World Premiere composed by Greg Sandow (b 1943). Following the interval, the second half will feature Beethoven’s last string trio, a fairly early work: his String Trio in C Minor, Opus 9, No 3.

David Yang, the Cret Trio violist, has an infectious enthusiasm for the Schoenberg piece, a work he has performed many times. His career is a blend of performing, composing and storytelling, so he’ll enjoy introducing the audience to this autobiographical piece, giving it context and detail.

Greg Sandow’s World Premiere is called Cooperation: something humanity definitely needs at this moment in time. It’s eight minutes long, in three movements, each with a title: I Focused II Playful and III Exuberant.

After the interval, the performers head to a more secure place: Beethoven. However, Beethoven’s string trios are not nearly as well-known as his quartets. The one the Cret Trio have chosen, his fifth, is a masterful work stamped with the character of its composer.

Stephanie Zyzak has played throughout Germany, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and France. She performs on a 1778 Joseph and Antonio Gagliano violin, generously on loan from Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute.

David Yang is a real renaissance man in the musical world having been a collaborator, director, performer and composer, while Clancy Newman, first prize winner of the Naumburg International Competition, has performed worldwide.

Tickets for the concert must be bought in advance online www.nadsa.co.uk or by calling 01626 717730 (10:00am – 5:00pm)