Astatine Trio

The Astatine Trio is coming to the Brighton Dome Studio Theatre on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, for a lunchtime concert that feels like a bit of a homecoming. The group, which formed in 2021 at the Royal College of Music, has a strong local connection; they are often described as being "one part Slovenian and two parts Brighton." This refers to the trio’s members: violinist Maja Horvat, and sisters Riya Hamie (cello) and Berniya Hamie (piano), the latter two having a history of performing in local festivals long before they started winning international chamber music prizes. Their recent appointment as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for the 2025-27 period suggests they are currently in a very productive phase of their career, and this performance, held in association with Kirckman Concerts, brings that momentum back to Brighton.

The programme for the afternoon, which begins at 13:00, is built around a contrast between established classical works and contemporary Japanese composition. They will perform Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 44, a piece written during the composer's time in London, followed by Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 1 in D minor. The Mendelssohn piece is frequently noted for its "fairy-like" scherzo, a style that Robert Schumann once highlighted when describing the work as a masterpiece of its era. Alongside these, the trio will play a 2013 piece by Toshio Hosokawa. This work is inspired by shamanism and the cosmos, using the violin and cello to represent the concept of yin and yang, providing a very different texture to the more traditional European repertoire.

If you follow the local classical scene, you might have already seen Berniya Hamie earlier in the year during her solo Chopin recital in March. This May date offers a chance to see her working within the trio format in the more intimate setting of the Studio Theatre. Entry is priced at £10.00, which is the standard guide price for this session. It is a fairly straightforward setup for a Wednesday afternoon, focusing on the technical interplay between the three musicians in a space that allows for a clear view of the performance. Given their recent trajectory and the mix of music on offer, it is an interesting opportunity to see how they handle the transition from 18th-century classics to modern, conceptually driven works.