EDMOND—The cello, violin and piano ensemble of the Eroica Trio entertained 568 Armstrong Auditorium visitors on April 27 during the final concert of the 2016–2017 Armstrong International Cultural Foundation performing arts series. It was the group’s second appearance at the venue.

The concert began with an arrangement of Chaconne in D Minor by J.S. Bach. The three instruments took turns playing the solemn melody of the 15-minute piece, which, in its original form, is one of the hardest pieces written for solo violin. Afterward, cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio told the audience she thought the Chaconne was “one of the most amazing achievements by man.” She then expressed her thoughts on Armstrong Auditorium, saying, “This is the nicest place in the world; you guys are like our second family!”

The next piece was designed “to fuse the spirit of Brazil with that of Johann Sebastian Bach,” according to foundation concert manager Ryan Malone on his radio show, Music for Life. Heitor Villa Lobo, the composer of Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5: Aria (Cantilena), said the piece was “not intended to be in the style of Bach’s music, but an attempt to freely adapt a number of Baroque harmonic and contrapuntal procedures to Brazilian music.” The Latin America-inspired piece, originally composed for eight cellos and a soprano, was arranged with the violin taking the soprano’s part, and the piano filling in for seven of the cellos, resulting in a unique musical texture.

The group also played the Trio Sinfonia, a modern piece composed specifically for the Eroica Trio by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Kevin Puts. Despite its distinctly modern sound, Puts has said the Trio Sinfonia was heavily inspired by the work of Ludwig von Beethoven. A highlight of the piece is the pensive third movement, which Sant’Ambrogio described as “unearthly in its beauty.”

The second half of the concert consisted of Antonin Dvorak’s Dumky Trio, which is known for its sporadic changes in tempo and volume, and an encore (a “little French pastry,” in the words of Sant’Ambrogio). This “dessert” was an arrangement of Camille Saint-Saens’ serene The Swan.

The Eroica Trio was founded in 1986 at Juilliard School. Its three current members have been collaborating with each other since they were in their early teens. The group has received the Naumberg Award, as well as multiple Grammy nominations for its eight albums.

The concert marked the third time the Eroica Trio has participated in the cultural foundation’s performing arts series since its inception. Sant’Ambrogio and pianist Erika Nickrenz performed at the John Amos Field House in 2006 and at the auditorium in 2011; Sant’ Ambrogio gave a master class to local cellists at Armstrong in January 2016, before performing solo at an all-Chopin concert.

The 2017–2018 performing arts series at Armstrong Auditorium begins on September 14.