From the 6th to the 17th of September, the NZTrio from New Zealand successfully presented five brilliant performances in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian and Hefei.

NZTrio performing in Mengmingwei Concert Hall of Tsinghua University on September 16th. (Photographer: Wang Jianyi)

From the 6th to the 17th of September, the NZTrio from New Zealand successfully presented five brilliant performances in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian and Hefei. During their tour, they played a series of cheerful repertoires which on each occasion received the appreciation of the audience.

The people of New Zealand have been nourished by the picturesque natural landscape of their country in many ways. The Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, still maintain a strong arts tradition especially in the field of music and dance. The music styles of the NZTrio are influenced by the musical traditions of the Maori. The NZTrio’s music can be described as both lively and graceful, like a warm sea breeze. With their own unique understanding of music, they have given a new interpretation to the classical compositions they play. During the tour, the trio’s repertoire covered not only Western classical music but also works written by modern New Zealand composers. The audience in all five cities enjoyed the artists’ musical talents and excellent performance. On the16th of September, students from Tsinghua University were treated with a performance of the NZTrio in the university’s Mengminwei Concert Hall. After the performance, music lovers rushed back stage to get a chance to meet with the artists. “My favorite is the encore repertoire which is the third part of Mondo Rondo, called Mambo Rambo”, said a student. This particular work written by New Zealand’s modern composer Gareth Farr, had left a deep impression on the audience.

A traditional Chinese version of NZTrio

As one of the most prestigious chambers in New Zealand, the NZTrio gives over 50 performances a year, both domestically and internationally. Even though it is their fifth visit to China, the NZTrio’s passion for Chinese culture has never changed over time. To express their enthusiasm for Chinese history, they even dressed up as Chinese Emperor and Empresses for a photo shooting in Beijing. After the tour came to an end, the artists expressed their hopes to have the opportunity to visit China again in the near future.