Corda Piano Trio
Your trio exists since 2022. Where are the origins?
We are all colleagues at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade and have known each other for many years. The idea to form a piano trio came quite naturally – out of mutual respect, artistic curiosity, and a shared desire to create something lasting and meaningful together.
Each of us has always been passionate about chamber music, yet we felt that this genre, which represents the most intimate form of musical dialogue, has somehow become overshadowed in our cultural life. We wanted to bring it back into focus, to remind audiences of its beauty and intensity – and at the same time, to reach beyond the borders of our country, which has given the world so many exceptional musicians. From the very beginning, there was a strong sense of connection among us – both as colleagues and as friends – and that chemistry continues to define our work.
Which repertoire style and era do you want to focus on?
The repertoire for piano trio is an endless treasure. Almost every great composer, from the Classical period to the present day, has left a remarkable contribution to this genre. That gives us enormous freedom – and responsibility – to build programs that reflect both tradition and discovery.
So far, we have performed works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn, Schubert – among others, but we also dedicate great attention to music of our time. Collaborating with living composers, exploring new sounds, and giving first performances is something that deeply excites us. It allows us not only to connect the past and the present, but also to leave a small trace for the future – to inspire young musicians, just as we were once inspired by those before us.
You have different backgrounds. Could you reflect on the extent to which your different backgrounds as musicians bring something to the ensemble?
That diversity is, in fact, one of our greatest strengths. We come from different generations, which means that each of us began a career in very different times and under different artistic circumstances. Those differences shaped our personalities and artistic views – and when we come together, they create a fascinating balance.
All three of us have studied in different European countries, and those experiences were truly transformative. They exposed us to different aesthetics, teaching traditions, and cultural perspectives, which now enrich our collective approach to music. At the same time, growing up and studying in Serbia during the 1990s was far from easy. Cultural life was marked by sanctions, isolation, and even war. Vladimir experienced that period most directly – a time when travel and exchange were almost impossible, and when pursuing music required extraordinary perseverance and inner strength.
Times change, of course, but every era brings its own challenges. They shape us, test us, and ultimately demand that we become more aware of what we live – and what we express through music. In a way, those difficult experiences became part of our strength. They taught us resilience, integrity, and the importance of fighting for our art without compromise. The meeting point of our three paths is where Corda truly comes to life: a synthesis of experience, curiosity, and an unbreakable spirit.
I read that you formed this trio with the idea of providing an authentic approach to interpreting repertoire written for piano trio. What exactly does that mean?
In many ways, this question directly connects to what we just spoke about. All of our individual experiences – the years of dedication and devotion to music, the struggles we faced, and at times the lack of understanding from our surroundings – have profoundly shaped the way we think and feel about authenticity in art. We’ve all had to fight for our artistic paths, to create something meaningful in circumstances that were often far from ideal. Those experiences have taught us to value honesty, depth, and integrity above everything else.
We don’t claim to be “unique” – every true artist, in their own way, already is. What we do believe in is authenticity: a kind of honesty that comes from complete surrender to music. Our interpretations are never about showcasing ourselves; they are about revealing what lies beyond the notes, about searching for truth within the score and within ourselves.
Over time, we discovered a very rare artistic chemistry among the three of us – the ability to breathe together, to phrase instinctively, as if led by one shared pulse. That kind of connection cannot be planned or manufactured; it simply happens, and when it does, it’s almost alchemical. Our mission is to preserve that sincerity and intensity in a world that increasingly tends to measure art in numbers, views, and statistics. We resist that – because for us, music is not a product. It’s a form of existence, a reflection of who we are, and of everything we have lived through.
Corda Piano Trio
How does all this come together when you are rehearsing? Do you discuss a lot? Do you sometimes disagree and how do you eventually find a compromise?
Yes – we discuss, we question, we challenge each other constantly. And that’s what makes rehearsing such a creative process. We love analyzing details, experimenting with sound, phrasing, and timing. Sometimes we disagree, of course – but those moments are never about ego; they’re about music. The goal is always the same: to find the most honest and organic expression of the composer’s idea.
What makes it work is mutual trust. We know we can express ourselves freely and that our colleagues will listen. That trust creates a sense of freedom and playfulness – our rehearsals often feel like stepping out of time, entering a small world where only music exists. It’s a space where we recharge, refine, and rediscover why we chose this path in the first place.
Tell us about the new album and its program. Why these quite different works?
The concept for our debut album, The Art of Three, emerged a few years ago, when we realized that 2023 marked 100 years since Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Trio in D minor and also a century since Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his Piano Trio No. 1. Two completely different worlds – one refined, introspective, full of tenderness and melancholy; the other bold, youthful, and charged with contrasts. That duality fascinated us, and we felt it represented the full spectrum of emotions we want to explore as an ensemble.
To complete the picture, we included Sergei Rachmaninov’s Trio élégiaque No. 1, as 2023 also marked 150 years since his birth. This early and deeply emotional piece felt like the perfect bridge between Fauré and Shostakovich – uniting the French lyricism and Russian intensity through a shared sense of longing and inner reflection.
The Art of Three was recorded in 2023 in collaboration with music producer Predrag Radisavljević and supported by the Kolarac Endowment, a legendary concert venue in Belgrade that has been the home of classical music for generations. After the recording, we spent quite some time searching for the right label – one that shared our artistic vision. Thanks to the KotorArt Festival, we were introduced to Azure Sky Records, with whom we immediately felt a strong connection. This collaboration marks the beginning of a partnership that we hope will continue for many years.
What are your plans for the future?
Our main goal is to share this album with audiences around the world – to bring our music, and in a way our country’s cultural identity, to international stages. We’re preparing an international concert tour and a series of residencies, as well as several collaborations with composers and institutions abroad.
At the same time, we remain deeply committed to the cultural life of Serbia, where we want to continue inspiring young musicians to explore chamber music and its endless possibilities. We also plan to commission new works from Serbian composers, which we believe is crucial for keeping our musical heritage alive and evolving.
To everyone reading this, we warmly invite you to follow our upcoming projects through our website and social media – and, hopefully, to join us at one of our concerts soon.
