NZTrio at Auckland Museum

NZTrio 2011 Subscription Series at the Museum

After a magnificent first season, NZTrio returns to Auckland Museum, this year weaving works of Johannes Brahms through their 4 concerts in the museum's Auditorium. In addition, they will present a special NZ Music Month concert in May, showcasing some of their favourite NZ compositions in the museum's Maori Court.

Alongside the magnificent works of Johannes Brahms, each concert will also feature a jazz-inspired snippet from the pen of young New York composer, Kenji Bunch. True to NZTrio tradition, fresh New Zealand compositions will sit at the heart of each programme – this year’s trios from composers to watch (and listen to) Chris Gendall, Clare Cowan and Chris Adams. In addition, masterful trios by Haydn, Saint Saens and Schubert will complete the first 3 programmes.

The final concert of the series will be NZTrio+2: a rare opportunity to hear a concert of three glorious piano quintets. The Auckland Philharmonia’s Assistant Concertmaster Miranda Adams and Principal Viola Robert Ashworth will join NZTrio for quintets by Shostakovich, our very own John Psathas and the mighty Brahms, appropriately rounding off this Brahms season.

Subscription Concert 1 - Sunday April 17, 5pm

Haydn Hob XV: 26 in f sharp minor 

Chris Gendall (NZ): Intaglio (2006)

Kenji Bunch (USA): Swing Shift – Groove Boxes

***

Brahms Trio No.1 in B Major, Opus 8 

NZTrio Kiwi Sampler 2 – Celebrating NZ Music Month: Sunday May 29, 7pm

– with guests Miranda Adams (violin) and Robert Ashworth (cello) 

NZTrio's Kiwi Sampler 2 rounds out the group's celebration of NZ Music Month, to be held in the Auckland Museum's stunning Maori Court. Joined by the APO's Miranda Adams and Robert Ashworth, this concert once again shines the spotlight on some of New Zealand's leading composers.

Michael Norris’ dirty pixels, the trio’s first ever commission, kicks off the programme with intense rhythmic energy; Maria Grenfell’s Feather of Blue, inspired by the imagery of a Kevin Ireland Poem, evokes rain pouring down a window pane giving way to sunshine; Samuel Holloway’s Stapes will present a totally unique sound world; Victoria Kelly’s string quartet Songs without Words is a set of exquisitely beautiful and moving songs in response to the birth of her daughter Sasha; Ross Harris’ Senryu is a quirky romp, structured as if a Japanese poetic form of haiku; Gao Ping’s Four Sketches depict snapshots of memories from China; A movement of John Psathas' Piano Quintet will conclude this thrilling feast of NZ music.

Michael Norris dirty pixels (NZTrio commission)

Maria Grenfell Feather of Blue

Samuel Holloway Stapes

Victoria Kelly Songs without Words (string quartet)

Ross Harris Senryu (NZTrio commission)

Gao Ping Four Sketches (NZTrio commission)

John Psathas Piano Quintet Movement

(Concert length approximately 75 minutes)

Subscription Concert 2: Sunday 31 July, 5pm

Brahms Piano Trio 2 in C Major, Opus 87

Chris Adams (NZ) Jekyll Rat

Kenji Bunch – Swing Shift: Night Flight

***

Schubert Piano Trio No.1 in B Flat major, Opus 99

Subscription Concert 3: Tuesday 13 September, 8pm

Saint Saens Piano Trio No.1 in F major, Opus 18

Clare Cowan (NZ) wood : strings : hammers : flesh

***

Kenji Bunch – Club Crawl

Brahms Trio No.3 in c minor, Opus 101

Subscription Concert 4: Sunday 6 November, 5pm

NZTrio + 2: The trio will be joined by Auckland Philharmonia Assistant Concertmaster Miranda Adams and Principal Viola Rob Ashworth to round off the 2011 Museum Series.

Shostakovich Quintet in G minor, Op. 57

Psathas Piano Quintet

***

Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 36