ARoha Music Society hosts Vieux Amis (Old Friends)

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.

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.
The first half of the programme has a strong baroque flavour with careful modern comments. We hear different combinations of instruments here, the poise and transparency setting the stage for the fullness of Shostakovich’s powerful second piano trio in the second half.

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.