by Daniel Hathaway

Now that two-thirds of the celebrated Kalichstein Laredo Robinson Piano Trio are in residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music, there are more opportunities to enjoy hearing them perform locally. On Wednesday, April 17 at 8 pm, the KLR Trio will join Carl Topilow and the CIM Orchestra in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in the orchestra’s final performance at Severance Hall this season.

Last year before the Trio appeared on the Mixon Masters Series, we enjoyed the opportunity of speaking to pianist Joseph Kalichstein about the group’s long history, which began with a gig at an inauguration reception for President Jimmy Carter thirty-five years before (read the interview here). This time, we reached violinist Jaime Laredo and his wife, cellist Sharon Robinson for a joint conversation at their home in Shaker Heights — just as a contractor was leaving.

“We bought this gorgeous, gorgeous old house that we love,” Laredo said, “but there are a million things going wrong all the time.” “A boat would be worse,” Robinson sighed. “We’re three doors down from where George Szell used to live,” Laredo continued. “The first day I walked by his house my stomach turned into a knot like it always used to!” [Read more…]