Chestnut Hill's Woodmere Art Museum continued its series of "Classical Saturdays" Jan. 25 with "Trio Excelsior!" in a program of music by Anton Arensky and Astor Piazzolla.The recital drew an audience that overflowed Woodmere's Rotunda, one of the region's most beautiful and resonant concert venues.

   "Trio Excelsior! Is comprised of pianist Marja Kaisla, cellist Elina Snellman-Lang and violinist Yevgeniy Dyo. Although relatively newly formed, they played with an astounding level of flawless ensemble, immaculate tuning and unshakeable balance.

   Although Arensky's Trio in D minor is not quite an unimpeachable masterpiece, it assuredly deserves more notice from piano trios than it receives. Its four movements are well formed in the traditional structures of the romantic piano trio, it expresses deeply felt emotions convincingly developed, and it offers its players ample opportunities to express themselves.

   That's precisely what Kaisla, Snellman-Lang and Dyo accomplished Saturday afternoon for their appreciative audience. They played with bracing precision, scintillating rhythmic dazzlement, shimmering timbres and explosive expressivity.

   After intermission, they offered proof that Antonio Vivaldi wasn't the only composer to sketch a musical portrait of the seasons."Master of the Tango" Piazzolla proffered his own "The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires" and"Trio Excelsior!" brought it to a local audience in style.

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