Vieux Amis

OVERVIEW

Vieux Amis (“Old Friends”) brings together three friends, neighbours and long-standing colleagues. Violinist, Justine Cormack, cellist, James Bush, and pianist, Sarah Watkins, all grew up together in Christchurch, and their bonds run deep.

Justine and James grew up across the road from each other, learning music together at the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music. There, as teenagers, Sarah and Justine first played chamber music together. The bond carried them into their careers—Sarah and James toured with CMNZ in 1996, and they first performed in this trio configuration in 1997. Justine and Sarah went on to work closely together as founding members of the NZTrio. James took a different tack, his fascination with the freedom and energy of baroque performance practice leading him to work with many of Europe’s top baroque orchestras and ensembles.

Vieux Amis present a programme that marries their diverse areas of expertise, cohering as a concert of vim and elegance. The links between Bach, Pärt and Shostakovich couldn’t be clearer.

MUSICIANS
Justine Cormack (violin)
James Bush (cello)
Sarah Watkins (piano)

PROGRAMME
ARVO PÄRT | Für Alina
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH | Viola da Gamba Sonata in D major, BWV 1028
ARVO PÄRT | mozart-adagio
JOHANN SEBASTIAN | Violin Sonata in E major, BWV 1016
—interval—
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH | Prelude and Fugue in E minor, op 87 no 4
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | Piano Trio no 2 in E minor, op 67