About the Trio

Praised for interpretations that are “as passionate as they are subtle” (Melómano) and for their “beautifully responsive chamber playing” (Berkhamsted Music), the Cygnus Trio was formed in 2012 by three students at the Royal Academy of Music. Having played together as a duo in Spain, violinist Javier Montañana and pianist César Saura met cellist Hannah Lewis, with whom they discovered a like-minded approach and a shared love of chamber music. Over the last fourteen years, the trio has studied with internationally renowned performers, won prizes in various competitions, and performed widely across Europe and the UK.

The ensemble’s development has been shaped by coaching from many renowned performers, notably including a series of masterclasses with Alfred Brendel in Pistoia, Italy. From 2017 to 2020, they also participated in specialised chamber music courses at the Accademia Walter Stauffer in Cremona, working closely with members of the Quartetto di Cremona. Since 2018, they have been members of the network Le Dimore del Quartetto and have performed extensively throughout Italy. The trio has received prizes in international competitions including the Antón Garcia Abril and the Ecoparque de Trasmiera competitions, and has appeared at festivals such as the Santander International Festival, the Panticosa International Festival, the Auditorium Lo Squero in Venice, and the Teatro Ponchielli in Cremona.

In 2024, their debut album Impressions of Iberia was released on the label Da Vinci Classics. Featuring works by Arbós, Turina, and Ravel, the recording was described by Melómano as “one of those recordings that can be enjoyed again and again, with its freshness remaining intact.” The album explores the relationship between Spanish folk music and French impressionism, an interest in cultural cross-pollination that often extends to their live programming, where they use art and poetry to shape their concert projects.