A golden night for glowing Gryphons

March 5, 2008
JOHN TERAUDS
CLASSICAL MUSIC CRITIC

The Gryphon Trio celebrated two milestones last night by doing what they do best: bringing a thoughtful program to life with careful artistry.

Violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, her cellist husband Roman Borys and pianist Jamie Parker – who all now teach at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music – first started performing together as the Gryphon Trio 15 years ago. For 10 of those years, they have presented their local recitals through the Music Toronto concert series, based at the Jane Mallett Theatre.

There were anniversary pastries on offer at the postconcert party at the St. Lawrence Centre, but the real treats were the ones the Gryphons had performed onstage (and recorded for future broadcast on CBC Radio).

Monday, March 10, 2008
Around Toronto, the Gryphon Trio musicians are considered maverick workaholics. Pianist Jamie Parker, cellist Roman Borys and violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon all teach at the university, play at jazz joints and tour their country tirelessly, sometimes with sopranos and lighting designers in tow. Last fall, the trio took on programming the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, arguably the largest chamber festival in the world.

So why is it that in the United States, the Gryphons are known as three polite Canadians who play Mozart well? 

The answer has much to do with the mysteries of arts funding and the risks of programming adventurous chamber music. Friday night's concert at Wolf Trap hinted at why these versatile musicians are so renowned back home. A last-minute switch kicked Mozart off the program, replacing his Trio in B-flat with Schumann's Piano Trio No. 2, which the group debuted Tuesday in Toronto. It came off well, but the royal treat was Beethoven's "Archduke," a piece they've been playing for years.