What is said about Atma Trio

"Groblicz Hall was crowded beyond expectations. Additional chairs needed to be brought in…54-year attendance record at the popular museum New Year’s Eve concerts was broken… Concert was presented at a very high, professional level. Atma Trio truly know what it means to play chamber music, how to converse, take impulses from partners, listen one to another.. They have this in their blood, and for me it was most interesting to hear the dialogues of the violinist and the cellist. In Haydn’s salon-like Trio in G-major Cheung Chau showed his ability to vary the sound, phrasing, color (…) In his presence the violinist as if took flight, avidly participating in the conversations, teasing (in Haydn), or projecting moments of utter sadness, passionate challenges, and dance-like pas (in Piazzolla). The pianist’s fingers caressed the keyboard with brilliance and pearl-like clarity. His elegant style suited Haydn perfectly. (…) [In] the interpretation of Richard Strauss’s Sonata in E-flat major for violin and piano Blanka Bednarz was unstoppable. Expressiveness, big sound, maturity—all this was very necessary, very stylistically appropriate…"

                                                                      Jolanta Brozda, Gazeta Wyborcza nr 4, Jan. 6, 2003

‘Castle Evening’ in Kornik began with a masterful performance by Atma Trio from USA”

                                                                     Malgorzata Derwich, Glos Wielkopolski, July 4, 2004

"Sunday evening in Hasior Gallery assembled the fans of Polish-American Atma Trio that has already earned honorary citizenship of the festival.. The concert in Zakopane was a link in a chain of concerts this amiable group presents on tour throughout Poland.”

                                         Andrzej Glowaczewski, Zakopane, Tygodnik Podhalanski, July 25, 2004

"This was an interesting celebration as far as chamber music is concerned. Atma Trio performed… I have to admit that Slawomir Dobrzanski, Blanka Bednarz and Cheung Chau are truly sophisticated musicians, and that their performances of Haydn’s C-major Trio and Mozart’s Piano Quartet in g-minor were particularly alluring. Blanka Bednarz is also concertmaster of Sinfonietta Polonia… There is much passion, many beautiful musical moments. It is very good that this orchestra came into existence. We wish it very well."

 Alina Kurczewska, Radio Merkury Review, Dec. 6th, 2004

"I am very happy with your performance and would like to thank you once again for your role in the inauguration of the VII Festival Chopin and Friends. Mr. Leszek Dlugosz was delighted with you, as was Mr. Kazimierz Wilk, artist painter from Cracow. You were a wonderful attraction at the opening of the festival."

Mr. Marian Zak of New York Dance & Arts Innovations, director of the festival,
Kosciuszko Foundation House, New York City, Nov. 2005

"Numerous audience rewarded Atma Trio with ardent applause."

 nyt.pl, New York, Nov. 13, 2005

"Atma Trio…did not disappoint…The audience received them well, and they left with a standing ovation."

                                                                             Ernest Barteldes, nycny.com, New York, Nov. 11, 2005 

"...Varsovia Trio, unfortunately, was not able to come. ’Visa problems’—this is the official word. Atma Trio that has stepped in for the stars at the inaugural evening thrills. It thrills with its excellent renditions of works by Chopin and Ravel…]"

                                                       Marek Rygielski, Super Express USA, New York, Nov. 18, 2005  

Ewa Mikolajewska: We did not attend all concerts presented by Sinfonietta Polonia [Apollo Foundation] last week, and there were several. Andrzej Chylewski attended the final concert held at the White Hall on Sunday.
Andrzej Chylewski: Yes, and yet again I have to point out with what difficulties chamber music reaches not only the Poznan but Polish audiences, for it is indeed a Polish problem. Even in case such as at this concert filled with very attractive repertoire and beautifully performed, despite also that this concert was held at a time that should potentially be perfect—this is the end of the regular musical season, a time for such smaller, chamber presentations indeed suitable for a late Saturday or Sunday afternoons, time during which—although this weekend defied this—there are generally too many events competing for attention.
Bravi to Atma Trio for this initiative. This international trio is already known in Poznan, as it has appeared here for the past several years. The trio was joined  this time by two friends, two violinists with very different backgrounds. One of them, Adrian Levine or Lewin—I spoke with him and he admitted to his Russian/Polish roots but with the latter he seems to identify himself more strongly… This is an outstanding pedagogue and  violinist, concertmaster of several world-renowned orchestras. He showed us what it means to be a leader, concertmaster. He plays on a beautiful Guarnerius—and additional attraction.
The second artist—Mark Ptashne—is an arch-interesting person. He is a molecular biologist, an outstanding, world known scientist passionate also about music. The full effect of the concert—bravi for choice of such lovely program—Haydn’s Trio in C major, Faure’s Piano Quartet in c minor and Schumann’s Piano Quintet.
I will admit that the entire concert was wonderful in this Sunday afternoon but its apex was the performance of Faure’s Quartet. This work represents belated romanticism but romanticism one likes, full of expressiveness, beautiful melodies, reflection and French lightness as well.
E. M: Andrzej, I think one should also express thanks to those thanks to whom Ptashne and Levine came to Poland,   Bednarz (violist) and her husband, conductor Cheung Chau, director of Sinfonietta Polonia.
E.M: And the audience?
A.Ch: As I already mentioned. Unfortunately there were the competitive events. The audience very strongly represented the stricte musical milieu. The number of non-professional music lovers was not to great, and it’s a pity—they truly missed so much!

Ewa Mikolajewska and Andrzej Chylewski "Our review"
(transcription and translation by Blanka Bednarz), Radio Merkury, June 18, 2007

Three, Four, Five  

Concert at The White Hall of the City Hall resounded again with chamber music that was both thrilling in terms of repertoire and in terms of performance.
Once again this concert enhanced certain obstacles which chamber music—however attractive in programming and however exciting in performance-continues to encounter in the Polish music environment, despite that Atma Trio and friends presented their program in a period seemingly favorable—the end of regular musical season—and at a worthy venue.
Atma Trio consists of pianist Slawomir Dobrzanski, violinist/violist Blanka Bednarz and cellist Cheung Chau (also the conductor and director of Sinfonietta Polonia). These seasoned musicians often  invite guests with whom to collaborate in making chambr music. This time it was a pair of violinists, Adrian Levine and Mark Ptashne (the latter above all an outstanding molecular biologist).
The concert was filled with performances of wonderful works of chamber music: Joseph Haydn’s Trio in C major, No. 21, Gabriel Faure’s Piano Quartet in c minor, op. 15 and Piano Quintet in E flat major op. 44 by Robert Schumann. Faure’s quartet was particularly notable—not only in the beauty of its musical content but also in the quality of performance.  This work is filled with seemingly belated French romanticism, of expressiveness, seriousness and touching power. The artists’ music making was enthralling.

Andrzej Chylewski, Glos Wielkopolski, Tuesday, June 19, 2007