In a programme of Haydn: Piano Trio No. 39 in G major Hob. XV:25 – Gypsy, Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor and Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 In C minor, Op. 66
In association with Alliance Française de Pune
Photo: Bernard Martinez
Awarded 11 international prizes, the Trio Zadig captivates audiences with its virtuosity, elegance and irresistible enthusiasm.
Friendship is at the core of the Trio Zadig’s strength and authenticity. Boris Borgolotto and Marc Girard Garcia are childhood friends who studied together at the Paris Conservatoire National de Musique and at the University of Music in Vienna. Upon their return to France, they crossed paths with Ian Barber, an American pianist from the renowned studio of Andre Watts at the University of Indiana. The chemistry between them is immediately apparent, and they decide to combine their talents and found the Trio Zadig.
The name comes from Voltaire’s eponymous character, Zadig (from the Hebrew for the ‘just’ and the Arabic for the ‘truthful’). Much like the music that the Trio performs, the story of Zadig is fantastically entertaining, while touching upon universal and uncompromising truths about the nature of reality.
In just a few years, the Trio has become very successful and won numerous awards, including the First Prize of the “Fnapec Musiques d’Ensemble” – in the footsteps of renowned ensembles like the Ysaÿe Quartet, the Ebene Quartet and the Wanderer Trio – as well as the Second Prize of the Fischoff Competition (USA). The Zadig Trio is now an “associated artist” in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. It is also a resident of ProQuartet in Paris, of “Le Dimore del Quaretto” in Italy and of the Singer-Polignac Foundation in Paris.
The Trio Zadig has performed all over the world, from the USA to Taiwan, as well as in prestigious halls like the BOZAR, Shanghai City Theater, Paris’ Philharmonic and the Salle Cortot. In parallel with this demanding schedule, the Trio has met with great artists who have contributed to the development of its musical expression, most notably Ivry Gitlis and Menahem Pressler.
Due to its auspicious beginning, the Zadig Trio has been invited to several broadcast shows on French (France Musique, France Inter), Belgian (Musiq’3 (RTBF) and Swiss (RTS2) public radios, as well as on Mezzo TV and Culturebox.
In March 2019, the Trio released its first album “Something in Between” (ffff Télérama) as homage to its French and American roots, in collaboration with the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Benjamin Attahir and Bruno Fontaine. The ensemble also regularly engages in social projects, notably by playing in schools and for prison inmates. Finally, as Beethoven’s 250th anniversary draws nearer, the Trio is preparing an important project around the composer’s Triple Concerto, with original cadenzas by Benjamin Attahir.
From Haydn to contemporary composers, the Trio Zadig’s audacity and freshness gives youth and vitality to the piano trio repertoire. The depth and sincerity of their interpretations, as well as their vivid, poetic sound, make them the creators of captivating performances. Just like Voltaire’s hero, the Trio promises to have a long and adventurous life.
Boris Borgolotto plays a 1750 violin by the famous Italian maker Carlo Antonio Testore. Marc Garcia plays a Frank Ravatin cello, generously loaned to him by the El Pasito association.
