24 min | TV Music Series | 2022 Just as with food, literature, and visual art, music can be a unifying force that transcends borders and ideologies. Music can also be something that people engage in debates about, not just from the perspectives of music critics, but also the very musicians themselves. This very careful balance between egos, as well as how great musicians interpret music, is covered in a recent Piano Talks production titled “Special Episode: Hermitage Piano Trio,” hosted by celebrated pianist Janara Khassenova. Just as a little background for those who aren’t aware of Hermitage Piano Trio, they were formed by three Russian-American musicians who had already achieved success in their individual careers when they banded together in 2011. They officially formed in New York and include pianist Ilya Kazantsev, cellist Sergey Antonov, and violinist Misha Keylin. As stated on their website: “The Trio is a champion …