Art3 (art to the power of three) demonstrates the sheer versatility of NZTrio; creating a multi-faceted arts experience that combines musical feeling with visual pleasure. The group respond to the art and the conceptual elements behind the work – in effect, “playing” the artworks chosen using a carefully considered programme.
The Black Rainbow exhibition brings together five black paintings with a red piano being the works of two iconic artists from two generations – Ralph Hotere and Michael Parakowhai - as they converse in colour, sound and ideas. The exhibition juxtaposes works of European roots and New Zealand contemporary art and culture. This is something not missed by NZTrio; leading off with their own European roots in the form of Beethoven’s Piano Trio in c minor, opus 1, no 3 and amalgamating them with contemporary NZ works.
Those NZ works also have an undeniable link with the world of visual arts; Michael Norris’ dirty pixels is a riposte to a work of visual art while Karlo Margetić’s Lightbox plays on the idea of the master-and-student relationship. As Margetić identifies Norris as his leading mentor, the trio pose the question “who learns from you” as their treatment to its inclusion.
Additionally, NZTrio fuses together more of the old and new – Taiwanese composer Yu-Hui Chang’s Flicker, with its action packed three minute sprint, marries up with Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s gorgeous harmonization to the slow movements of Mozart’s piano sonata movement with Mozart-Adagio.
Programme:
• Beethhoven: Piano Trio in c minor, Opus 1, No. 3 – 30’
• Michael Norris: dirty pixels – 12’
• Yu-Hui Chang: Flicker – 3’
• Arvo Pärt: Mozart – Adagio – 6’
• Karlo Margetić: Lightbox – 10’
