About Tavros Records

Tavros Records was formed during the summer of 2001 when a band of friends heard a student trio perform during a master class at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. During the performance, the friends recognized they were hearing something rare – an especially impassioned rendition of a classical work they later realized was strangely rare in the world’s library of recorded literature.

The friends took fast action. They made a contract with the musicians, located Beagle Studios in Santa Barbara, and began to record. These sessions were full of wonderful energy, enthusiasm, and love of the music. They were a joint creative effort between the musicians, the band of friends, and Beagle Studios’ talented sound engineer, Emmet Sargeant.

The result of this first effort, a recording of the Rachmaninoff Élégiaque piano trios, earned critical acclaim, including a high rating in the venerated Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and DVDs.

The group went on to record the Russian pianist, Vassily Primakov, who had also been studying at the Music Academy of the West and who gathered a large group of Santa Barbara fans and supporters and went on to a promising concert career. Primakov’s recording with Tavros was a Chopin piano recital that also earned high marks in a subsequent Penguin Guide review.

At Tavros we still believe the most inspired musical performances may come from young artists who have not been “discovered” yet – or who are on the verge of discovery. “Beautiful recordings of brilliant, new musical talent” was our original motto when we started, and in this spirit we are pleased to continue to share these special recordings with you.

Credits

Producers: Hillary Hauser, John Robinson, Frederick Johnston
Tavros Records™

Recorded and mixed by: Emmet Sargeant, at Beagle Studios, Santa Barbara, California

Mastered by: Emmet Sargeant

Cover Art: John Robinson

Text: Hillary Hauser

Photos: Hillary Hauser

CDs manufactured by: Disc Makers, Los Angeles

Special thanks to the Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, for its Summer 2001 session, where the seed was planted for this recording project. Special thanks to the Academy, too, for its loan of a Steinway D piano for the Vassily Primakov recording.

Vassily Primakov, Hillary Hauser and Emmet Sargeant