October, 2014

Founded in 1982, the Munich Piano Trio is one of the most active and sought-after German chamber music ensembles. The musicians have undertaken lengthy concert tours throughout Europe, North America, Russia, Japan, China and a few African countries. The Trio has given concerts in the world’s most famous venues, including Berlin’s Philharmonic Chamber Music Hall, New York’s Carnegie Recital Hall, Munich’s Cuvilliés Theater, Hercules Hall and Prince Regent’s Theater, Tokyo's Suntory and Casals Hall and London’s Wigmore Hall. Festival engagements have included the Munich Opera Festival, the Orlando Festival and the European Chamber Music Festival in Strasbourg. Collaborative performances with renowned German critic and author Joachim Kaiser also play a major role in the Trio’s concert activity.

The Munich Piano Trio has become a welcome guest worldwide with its exceptional programming. Repertoire includes the masterpieces of the trio literature, as well as less frequently performed Romantic and modern works, including new compositions written especially for the ensemble. Fono Forum praises the “precision and homogeneity of its ensemble,” and the Süddeutsche Zeitung admires the Trio’s “well balanced agogic, fervent depiction of the musical lines, refreshingly lively phrasing” as well as its “outstanding, harmonious blending of accompanied and solo passages.”

Global master classes, frequent performances on radio and television, and more than 30 CDs round off the activities of the Munich Piano Trio.

Donald Sulzen (Piano)

Born in Kansas City, U.S.A. Summa-cum-laude graduate of the University of North Texas (Joseph Banowetz, Harold Heiberg) and of the École normale de musique de Paris, France (Jules Gentil). Accompanist of world famous singers: Laura Aikin, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Julie Kaufmann, Ofelia Sala, Marilyn Schmiege, Doris Soffel, David Daniels, Thomas Cooley and James Taylor. Teacher at Salzburg’s “Mozarteum” and presently at Munich’s Richard Strauss Conservatory. Guest at international festivals in Europe, Japan, North and South America. Master classes for song, accompanying and chamber music. Award winning CDs for Orfeo, Arte Nova, cpo, Amati, Genuin, Koch International and Emi-Toshiba.     

Michael Arlt (Violin)

Born in Erfurt, Germany. Artist Diploma at the Weimar Musikhochschule (Karl-Georg Deutsch), Performance Diploma at Indiana University (Miriam Fried) and Masters of Music at Rice University (Kathleen Winkler). Scholarship recipient and alumnus of the prestigious German scholarship foundation Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. Guest at international music festivals in Sweden, Canada, USA, Israel and Holland. First prizes at competitions in Rostock, Usti nad Orlici, Mainz and Houston. Performances as soloist with orchestras in Germany, Switzerland and the USA. Presently Principle Second Violin of the Bavarian State Opera. Plays a violin of Michele Deconet, Venice ca. 1745.

Gerhard Zank (Cello)

Press Reviews
“The Munich piano trio tracks down the melancholic tone, the ardent mourning and the passion of the outbreaks sensitively; it implements the full scale of emotional states in a thrilling way.”

“In their passionate interpretation, the three musicians drew the fullest possible sonority and flowing melodies out of their instruments, leading their exciting, homogenous ensemble to a fulminating climax. To speak simply of perfection, would not be enough. It was a culmination of artistic commitment, a most successful endeavour to achieve musical expression of the very deepest nature.”


“Thus one wishes chamber music evenings! A varied, wisely well-chosen program, spirited, dynamic, moving interpreters, mastering the most difficult passages with nonchalance, with discipline and split second harmonic changes”

“Thesis – antithesis - synthesis: Mauricio Kagel's trio joins the elements from both preceding pieces. Quietly and restrained, played by the Munich Trio with tender elegance, the work begins, shifts suddenly to a sombre mood, and then erupts violently. Outstandingly played! ”

“Dvorak’s ever welcome Dumky Trio was given an exhilarating and affectionate performance by this very musical trio.”

Recommended Repertoire

NO. 1
Haydn Trio C-Dur Hob. XV:27

Johannes Brahms Trio c-Moll op.101

Franz Schubert Trio Es-Dur op. 100

NO. 2
Joseph Haydn Trio C-Dur Hob. XV:27

Ludwig van Beethoven Trio G-Dur op. 1 Nr. 2

Franz Schubert Trio Es-Dur op. 100

NO. 3
Joseph Haydn Trio Trio C-Dur Hob. XV:27

Johannes Brahms Trio c-Moll op. 101

Antonin Dvorak Trio e-Moll op. 90 „Dumky-Trio“

NO. 4
Joseph Haydn Trio C-Dur Hob XV:27

Ludwig van Beethoven Trio G-Dur op. 1 Nr.2

Johannes Brahms Trio c-Moll op. 101