Simply great sounds

Sharu Delilkan | 19th November 2009

Forget the elitist reputation, this chamber music trio is all about a repertoire of wide appeal, as Sharu Delilkan finds out.

Ashley Brown is bursting with excitement ahead of the NZ Trio's debut at Auckland Town Hall this week. His ebullience is because he believes the hall's acoustics make it the best place to play.

"It's also great to be playing in one of Auckland's iconic venues,'' says the trio's cellist.

A founding member of the trio, which formed seven years ago, Brown says their concert, Flourishes, is also their first show outside the University of Auckland, where they recently completed their residency.

The 37-year-old from Grey Lynn says working freelance has freed up a lot of time, allowing  the trio to pick and choose their performances.

"It's great not to have any boundaries. I feel artistically freer and happier.''

Brown's colleagues, violinist Justine Cormack and pianist Sarah Watkins, are established soloists.

The NZ Trio likes to present eclectic programming in their concerts, and Flourishes holds true to this preference.

It will feature pieces by a variety of composers - Mozart, Ravel, Arvo Part, Eve de Castro-Robinson and Wayan Yudane.

Brown says working in the trio is "even more intense than a marriage. You spend lots of time looking at each other, having a deep connection on a musical level.''

Besides playing the chamber music genre, Brown loves the intimacy of reacting to and eyeballing the audience.

"It's great to have that rapport. We make it a point to meet the audience after all our shows.

"Often people, particularly those new to chamber concerts, are pleasantly surprised at how relaxed it is, because they expect it to be very elitist.

"It doesn't take long before they realise we're just about making good music.''

Flourishes, Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Centre, Nov 22, 5pm. Tickets: ph 357 3355 or see www.the-edge.co.nz