Young Artist Leo Popplewell is a member of the Mithras Trio, whose dynamic performances are making waves in the classical world. With an impressive portfolio of awards, from ROSL to Cavatina, and equally remarkable repertoire, Leo tells us what the trio has been up to since winning a Musicians’ Company award.

What has the trio been up to in the last year?
We’ve had a busy year of concerts, taking our programme of Beethoven Archduke, Tailleferre and Saint-Saëns Piano Trios on the road. We’ve also recently won an award from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, and have been cooking up projects over the next couple of years.

Tell us about your debut album Eros. How is it connected to the Greek god of love?
The choice of repertoire on the album is highly diverse, inviting several associations with the Greek god of love: the allure of the female form is heard in Helen Grime’s sparkling Three Whistler Miniatures, as is the beautiful maiden in Alberto Ginastera’s Danza de la moza donosa. Frank Bridge’s Phantasie Trio drips with hyperromantic indulgence, while Iván Eröd’s Piano Trio No. 1, a nod to the title, is a work that marries Haydn and post-Bartók Hungarian folk influence, with some French Impressionist harmonies and no small element of jazz!

You’re quoted as being advocates for unjustly neglected repertoire. Tell us more.
We love surprising an audience into liking music by a composer they’d never heard of. There is such a vast quantity of repertoire which is neglected, under-played, and even undiscovered, and it gives us great pleasure to discover and polish the hidden gems in the mix. Recently we have been touring the Piano Trio of Germaine Tailleferre, a composer whose music (in our humble opinion) should enjoy a far greater respect and admiration than it currently has. It’s so full of life, wit and imagination.

Is there a growing appetite for hearing less mainstream music?
I think what matters more is the quality of the music – if it is good music (and we only play pieces we think are good) then people will enjoy it!

You’ve toured UK, Europe and Canada. Where next?
If Mars opens a new recital series, sign us up!

What are your plans for the coming year?
We are back in the studio recording our next album for Linn Records in February, with lesser-played works by Korngold, Shostakovich and Joy Lisney.

 See Mithras Trio perform

Interview by Suzy Willmott