Jennifer Stumm & Te Koki Trio: Secrets & Hidden Messages 
 
MFC 
 
Thursday, August 8 
 
This Chamber Music NZ concert featured touring American violist Jennifer Stumm with local musicians Inbal Megiddo (cello), Jian Liu (piano) and Martin Riseley (violin): Te Koki Trio. 
 
The opening piece was just for the trio, a Chamber Music-commission by local composer Michael Williams. Over a see-sawing frenzy of violin the piano provided graceful punctuation and the cello added its oaky-warm tone. A beautiful piece that felt filmic and seemed to take as much from ambient/minimalist composers and players (Philip Glass/The Necks) as anything from the strictly classical world, it offered a brilliant start to a diverse and intriguing program.
 
Stumm was out next for three short solo viola pieces from Gyorgy Kurtag – not only is Stumm a very fine player but she emanates warmth in her spoken introductions that not only provide context and analysis but work on a level due to her fine storytelling skill.  
 
Schuman and Brahms were net in the program with pianist Jian Liu accompanying Stumm. He was very nearly the highlight of the show, such engaging and empathic playing, a Best Supporting Player award-worthy turn at the ivories, never ever scene-stealing, always there for the tune and for the other musicians on stage. 
 
After the interval the program concluded with one single long piece, Brahms’ Piano Quartet No 3 in C Minor (“Werther”) which featured nods to Schumann and Beethoven, which saw Stumm and the Te Koki Trio working together – all players featured individually at various points – in a stunning display of musicianship and respect for the composition. 
 
What a wonderful evening this was – pure musical magic.
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