Stunning Eroica Trio Returns to New Zealand

“… the playing of this wonderful trio was so beautiful, so perfectly unanimous, seeming to emerge from one soul: it deserved – demanded –almost religious awe.” – Dominion Post

Stunning Eroica Trio Returns to New Zealand

One of the most in-demand ensembles in the world, the Eroica Trio returns to New Zealand in March for a 10-centre nationwide tour to open Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2009 season.

The Grammy-nominated Eroica Trio performs in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Wellington and Nelson from 12-25 March.

The tour begins in Auckland with an hour-long recital on Thursday 12 March as part of Auckland Festival 2009’s Music at Twilight Series, before continuing with the full concert programmes in the 10 centres.

In 2003, on their debut tour of New Zealand, the New York-based trio packed out halls around the country and had critics ecstatic in their praise.

Featuring pianist Erika Nickrenz, violinist Susie Park and cellist Sara Sant'Ambrogio, all three women are top-ranked award-winning soloists, and in 2007, the trio celebrated its 20th anniversary. Sara and Erika have been playing together since they were 12 years old, and Australian violinist Susie Park joined in 2006 replacing Adele Pena.

“Eroica’s musicians have the muscle to be purely dramatic and emotional, but here they stand out for subtler reasons: all three players are soloists who have a lot to say, and every note, no matter how light, has some significance.” – New York Times

The Eroica Trio has recorded eight CDs with EMI, garnering numerous Grammy Award nominations. The latest disc ‘An American Journey’ features all-American music and was released late last year.

The programmes for the New Zealand tour mark the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn’s birth with performances of his first and second piano trios. Their classical intensity is mirrored by the music of Édouard Lalo and Rebecca Clarke, and contrasted with the flair of Paul Schoenfield, whose Café Music is by turns sassy, bluesy and totally American. In Programme One, composer Raimundo Penaforte arranged Villa Lobos’ stunning Aria especially for the Eroica Trio. The evocative tangos Oblivión and Primavera in Programme Two were arranged specifically for piano trio by Piazzolla’s own cellist.

The Eroica Trio perform as part of the Music at Twilight Series (part of Auckland Festival 2009) at the Baptist Tabernacle, Queen St, Auckland on Thursday 12 March at 6pm, followed by a major concert tour beginning in Hamilton at the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato on Friday 13 March, at Century Theatre, Napier on Saturday 14 March; Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, New Plymouth on Monday 16 March; Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North on Tuesday 17 March; James Hay Theatre, Christchurch on Wednesday 18 March; at Dunedin’s Glenroy Auditorium on Friday 20 March; Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE® on Saturday 21 March (part of Auckland Festival 2009), Invercargill’s Civic Theatre on Monday 23 March; Wellington Town Hall on Tuesday 24 March and finishing the tour at Nelson School of Music on Wednesday 25 March. For booking information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz

Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.
ENDS

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