Cook Strait Trio

These three fine young musicians, each of them fast establishing themselves in their respective careers, perform for us as the Cook Strait Trio. Blythe Press, violin, Hugo Zanker, cello and Amber Rainey, piano, have chosen their name because “it places us as New Zealanders as well as linking the Nelson Summer School and Wellington city, the foundation places of our chamber music education.”

Finding inspiration in the popular music of his native Spain and in particular the region of Andalucía, Joaquin Turina’s music was also influenced by his time in Paris where he met many of the influential musicians of his day.

Anglo-American composer and viola player Rebecca Clarke was a pioneer, being one of the first women permitted to play in Henry Wood’s Queen’s Hall Orchestra and recognised as an influential composer of her day. Her powerful and expansive Piano Trio was written in 1921.

Their programme concludes with one of Mendelssohn’s most popular chamber music works, his Piano Trio in D minor.

Past Concerts