A chamber music group comprising three distinguished musicians hopes it’ll strike a chord with Queenstowners tomorrow.
The Argyle Trio — performing at Thomas Brown Gallery during an extensive national tour — consists of Fijian-born violinist Wilma Smith, long-time former concert master of the New Zealand and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, Kiwi cellist Matthias Balzat, who’s based in Dusseldorf, Germany, and young Aussie pianist Laurence Matheson.
Formed in 2020, the trio first performed locally at Arrowtown’s The Lodge at The Hills, two years ago, but due to Covid travel restrictions Matheson was replaced by eminent Kiwi pianist Michael Houstoun, whom the former once studied under.
Smith, who was last here in June, co-judging the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, says Tuesday’s concert features ‘‘a gorgeous programme’’.
Beethoven’s piano trio in C minor is followed by piano trios in G minor and E minor by Czech composers Smetena and Dvorak, respectively.
Smith believes the secret to a successful chamber group is ‘‘the ability to listen really carefully to everything that’s going on around you and enjoying playing with the other people, which we do’’.
‘‘We enjoy a good road trip and as pie fanatics we’ll be doing all the hot pie spots in the South Island.’’
Argyle Trio, tomorrow 7.30pm (wine and cheese 7pm), Thomas Brown Gallery, 568 SpeargrassFlat Rd; tickets $55 from Eventfinda
