Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland audiences will be treated to a thrilling concert experience as the NZTrio performs a unique collection of works created within the last decade by composers from Brazil, the US, Japan and New Zealand. The Fire and Water tour kicks off on Sunday April 13.

NZTrio is one of New Zealand's most acclaimed professional chamber groups and is widely hailed for its innovative repertoire and dynamic interpretations. Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland, NZTrio has a reputation for surprising and dazzling both contemporary and classical music lovers.

Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland audiences will be treated to a thrilling concert experience as the NZTrio performs a unique collection of works created within the last decade by composers from Brazil, the US, Japan and New Zealand. The Fire and Water tour kicks off on Sunday April 13.

NZTrio is one of New Zealand's most acclaimed professional chamber groups and is widely hailed for its innovative repertoire and dynamic interpretations. Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland, NZTrio has a reputation for surprising and dazzling both contemporary and classical music lovers.

The NZTrio is comprised of violinist Justine Cormack, cellist Ashley Brown, and pianist Sarah Watkins. The tour programme includes the following works:

Justine Cormack, violinist of NZTrio, says it's always a huge honour to premiere a work.

"Eve de Castro-Robinson is one of our leading ladies of composition," she says, "and this new piece she has written especially for our tour is simply magical, with an almost ritualistic, meditative feel to it. Fellow Kiwi Gareth Farr is also one of our favourite composers. His instantly appealing melodies and driving rhythms also make him an audience favourite. Ahi is the Maori word for fire and that perfectly sums up the energy throughout this piece."

Dear to NZTrio pianist Sarah Watkins is composer Jennifer Higdon. "She's a new voice to most New Zealand audiences," Watkins says, "but is fast becoming one of America's most frequently performed composers - already with numerous awards under her belt (including a Grammy nomination) for her stunning orchestral and chamber works. Her Piano Trio features two movements: the first is expansive and achingly lyrical, while the second is pure fireworks and rhythmic excitement. Total edge-of-the-seat music," she adds.

"We were first introduced to Hiroyuki Yamamoto's Ultro citroque by Jack Body," NZTrio cellist Ashley Brown says, "who asked us to perform it as part of the 2007 Asia Pacific Festival. It's a fleeting, riveting piece that requires intense concentration and ensemble playing of the highest precision."

To complete the programme "and leave the audience buzzing" says Brown, is An Eroica Trio by New York-based, Brazilian-born composer Raimundo Penaforte.

"Three distinct musical forms and composers are the inspiration for this trio - hypnotic tango rhythms bring to mind Astor Piazzolla in the opening movement; the second is pure sultry blues/jazz, an homage to Frenchman Maurice Ravel; and the playful sounds of Brazil are evoked in the Finale. It's an incredible piece," he says.

NZTrio tour tickets

Win double passes: The Big Idea will be interviewing NZTrio violinist Justine Cormack next week. If you have a question for her about the trio, the tour or their work then send them in to go into the draw to win double passes to the show. Courtesy of the NZTrio - we have a double pass for the Auckland show and two double passes for Christchurch and Wellington.

Email: The editor@thebigidea.co.nz with the subject line NZTrio tickets
Include: A question, your TBI username, your full name, contact details and the concert you can attend.
Eligibility: To be eligible you must be a member of The Big Idea. You must be able to attend the concert and tickets are non-transferable.
Entries: Need to be received by midnight Thursday April 3.
Winners: Will be contacted by email on Tuesday April 8.

Sunday 13 April, 3pm - Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre, Christchurch
Sunday 20 April, 3pm - Ilott Concert Chamber, Wellington
Wednesday 23 April, 8pm - Music Theatre, The University of Auckland, Auckland

Tickets: Adults: $30, Concessions: $15 (Seniors/students)
Bookings: Christchurch and Wellington concerts Ticketek
Auckland concert TicketDirecet

Justine Cormack is the violinist in the NZTrio, Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland. She is the former Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and played for many years with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Chamber Orchestra.

Recognised as a recitalist, chamber musician, adjudicator and concerto soloist, Justine's myriad awards include a TVNZ Young Achievers Award, two QEII Arts Council Grants, a Fulbright Scholarship, and an NZSO Alex Lindsay Memorial Award.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a Masters from the San Francisco Conservatory and a Bachelors in performance violin from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

27/03/08