Konzertreihe „KLASSIK mitten in Rheinhessen“

Chamber music with the piano trio Irida Trio

The focus is on Maurice Ravel's piano trio. 2025 marks the anniversary year of Ravel; he would have turned 150 years old. The Irida Trio, named after the goddess Iris, was founded in the autumn of 2018 by three friends at the University of Music Saar under the direction of Prof. Tatevik Mokatsian. Since 2022, they have been studying with the Artemis Quartet at the University of the Arts Berlin. Since then, the Irida Trio has had many opportunities to showcase their shared joy in chamber music through numerous concerts and festivals across Europe. Johanna Hempen (violin), Oliver Léonard (cello), and Alexander Baier (piano) are committed to connecting contemporary repertoire with works from the tradition. In the summer of 2019, the ensemble's meticulous chamber music work culminated in the 1st prize at the 20th Walter Gieseking Competition in Saarbrücken, followed by a radio production by the Saarland Radio. In 2020, the Irida Trio also won the highly regarded scholarship from the Hans and Ruth Giessen Foundation. The ensemble is supported by the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Foundation in Saarland. In autumn 2022, the trio released their debut CD “Phoenix” with KKE Records, accompanied by a release concert at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.

www.iridatrio.com.

Johanna Hempen (violin) became a junior student at the Lübeck University of Music at the age of 14. After two years, she transferred to the Saarbrücken University of Music, where she studied with Prof. Hans-Peter Hofmann. Orchestral playing has been a passion for Johanna Hempen since her youth. She has served multiple times as concertmaster and section leader of the 2nd violins with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and has been the deputy concertmaster and section leader of the 2nd violins with the Folkwang Chamber Orchestra Essen since December 2022. She received several scholarships, including from the Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation and the Saarland Richard Wagner Association.

After a junior study at the University of Music Frankfurt, Oliver Léonard (cello) began his bachelor's degree at the University of Music Lucerne. In 2020, he began his solo concert examination and a master's degree in chamber music at the University of Music Saar under Prof. Tatevik Mokatsian. Oliver Léonard found his way into orchestral music, among others, as principal cellist of the Deutsche Streicherphilharmonie. Since 2021, he has been the deputy principal cellist of the Staatstheater Kassel. He has given solo, chamber music, and orchestral concerts in all the major concert halls in Germany, as well as in other European countries and South America. His musical career is also supported by scholarships, including from Villa Musica.

Alexander Baier (piano) completed his master's degree in solo piano under Prof. Thomas Duis in 2022 and has since been studying chamber music with Prof. Tatevik Mokatsian at the University of Music Saar. His solo and chamber music career has been accompanied by numerous competition prizes. He has performed in Germany, Poland, Italy, and Greece, debuted at the "Heidelberger Frühling," and recorded for the Saarland Radio and Deutsche Grammophon. Additionally, he has a keen interest in song and has accompanied well-known singers across Germany. He received, among other awards, the Bayreuth Scholarship from the Richard Wagner Association Saarbrücken.

Tickets are available at the Touristik Center Rheinhessen Mitte,
Bahnhofstr. 21 in Wörrstadt.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM,
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM.
Monday and Wednesday afternoons are closed.

Ticket prices:
Single price per concert: 33 Euros / reduced 22 Euros*
Subscription price for 3 concerts: 80 Euros / reduced 55 Euros*
* The discount applies to holders of the volunteer card as well as students, trainees, and university students.

Tickets can also be purchased online!!! TICKETS-ONLINE