Salute to an Artist of Many Talents....

Some composers write music for anonymous performers, while others, like André Previn, prefer to tailor works to a particular muse. Mr. Previn, who has written pieces for musicians like the pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, has also been inspired by the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, who was one of the commissioners of his Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello.

That work received its premiere at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, performed by Mr. Previn, Ms. Mutter (to whom he was once married) and the cellist Lynn Harrell. It was the second of three concerts celebrating Mr. Previn’s 80th birthday and showcasing him in his various musical guises as pianist, composer and conductor.
Mr. Previn began his career in Hollywood as an orchestrator and film composer. While cementing his reputation later as a conductor of top orchestras and as a classical and jazz pianist, he continued to write music. His catalog includes concertos, an opera and many vocal and chamber works. When asked during a recent interview with Charlie Rose what has brought him most satisfaction in his multifaceted musical life, Mr. Previn replied, “Probably composing.”

Mr. Previn’s Trio felt disjointed as a whole, although there were ear-catching moments. The first movement, “Spirited,” was true to its name, with vigorous melodies for the violin and cello played with zest by both performers. Mr. Harrell’s rich tone was displayed to fine effect in the Adagio, after which came “Lively,” the jazzy final movement.
Mr. Previn’s affinity for jazz could also be heard in the Cadenza from his Double Concerto for Violin and Double Bass (2007), in which Ms. Mutter was joined by Roman Patkolo. The two soloists alternated playing pizzicatos and insistent melodies, at other times sharing an energetic dialogue.

The program also included Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 1, which Mr. Previn, Mr. Harrell and Ms. Mutter recently recorded for Deutsche Grammophon in honor of the Mendelssohn bicentennial. Mr. Previn sounded lackluster here in light of the more vigorous playing of his colleagues, but performed with sensitivity in the Andante.
The program opened with a graceful rendition of the Piano Trio in B flat (K. 502) by Mozart, who Mr. Previn says “is the great composer of all time for me.”

The final concert in André Previn’s birthday series at Carnegie Hall is on Sunday; (212) 247-7800, carnegiehall.org.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/arts/music/24mutt.html?ref=music