Classical supergroup is set to rock Benaroya Hall

Any of these three would be a headliner in his own right — but the Seattle Symphony is bringing a trio of classical stars to kick off the Distinguished Artists series on Monday.

The 7:30 p.m. program features violinist Gil Shaham, cellist Lynn Harrell and pianist Yefim Bronfman (all have appeared as soloists with the orchestra). They'll play two big trios: the Tchaikovsky A Minor (Op. 50) and the Schubert No. 1 in B-Flat Major (Op. 99).

The trio was originally announced with the brilliant Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk, who withdrew a few weeks ago due to his father's serious illness. His cancellation is a disappointment for cello fans, but the trio has found a worthy replacement in Harrell, whose most recent Northwest appearances were in two memorable programs with Jon Kimura Parker at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in August.

The trio members come from different backgrounds. Shaham was born in Illinois but spent his childhood in Israel. Harrell was born in New York, and Bronfman in Seattle's sister city of Tashkent in Uzbekistan. (Bronfman also moved to Israel for three years during his childhood, before immigrating to the U.S. 30 years ago.)

Nor are their musical styles parallel. Harrell commands a huge cello sound but is also known for his subtlety of interpretation. Bronfman is famous for his thunderous keyboard technique and his command of the romantic-era repertoire, and Shaham is a violin virtuoso with far-reaching tastes. All three, however, are devotees of chamber music, which is why they are putting their solo careers temporarily on hold and embarking on a trio tour that will take them to Carnegie Hall next weekend.

For tickets to their Benaroya Hall performance, call 206-215-4747, or visit www.seattlesymphony.org.

That is where you'll also find tickets to this weekend's Seattle Symphony Basically Baroque program with the highly regarded English conductor Nicholas McGegan, at 8 p.m. today and Saturday in the same hall. These concerts also mark the Seattle debut of the countertenor David Daniels, of whom a New York Times critic wrote: "To say that he is the most acclaimed countertenor of the day, perhaps the best ever, is to understate his achievement. He is simply a great singer."

Classical-music previews

McGegan, known best to American audiences as the music director of Philharmonia Baroque, has also conducted most of Europe's most celebrated orchestras — often, though not exclusively, in the baroque repertoire that he has made his own.

The Seattle program includes some of that repertoire: arias from three Handel operas, Telemann's "Don Quichotte," Vivaldi's "Stabat mater" and the Suite from Purcell's "King Arthur." (You can hear clips from the Telemann and Vivaldi works online at the Symphony's Web site.)

Something new

• A new conversation: Thursday will bring a free public forum, "Silent Strings: Where Are the Black Youth in Classical Music?," set for 6:30-8 p.m. in the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (104 17th Ave. S.), where radio personality and musician Dave Beck will moderate a panel including Seattle Pacific University's Carlene Brown, Garfield High School's Marcus Tsutakawa, and Bruce Lawrence, bassist and emeritus member of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. The event is presented in conjunction with a Seattle residency by the Young Eight, a nationally renowned African-American octet headed by former Seattleite Quinton Morris, who also appears on the panel. If you've ever wondered about these issues and want to make a difference, check out the forum, which is free to the public — and refreshments will be served.

• New to Seattle: Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, who has just assumed the music directorship of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras (there are four training ensembles as well as the big Youth Symphony). Radcliffe takes his first bows on the Benaroya Hall podium, leading the Youth Symphony in a program of big moments this Sunday at 3 p.m.: Wagner's Prelude to "Die Meistersinger," Barber's "Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance" and Stravinsky's "Firebird" Suite. For tickets, call 206-362-2300.

• New to Gallery Concerts: the "Governor's Chickering Piano," an 1867 instrument from the home of the last territorial governor before Washington became a state in 1889. The piano, which resided in the Walla Walla home of Gov. Miles C. Moore, has been completely restored, and has a mellow, strongly characterized sound and a fleet, light action. It's just the right instrument, in fact, for "The Schumanns at Home" — a program of music by Robert and Clara Schumann and their circle. The players include fortepianists Tamara Friedman and George Bozarth, plus clarinetist Neil Rynston in the "Fantasiestücke." Performances start at 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, in the Seattle Piano Gallery, 2230 Eighth Ave. (206-726-6088 or www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/4060).

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com