Music lovers are in for a rare treat when the acclaimed NZTrio He Taonga Wairere brings its celebrated show Magnifique to Whakatāne for a one-off performance next week.

The concert, taking place on Friday, May 16 at the Church of St George and St John, marks the final stop on the ensemble’s seven-date North Island tour – a moment pianist Somi Kim says always carries a special energy.

“There’s something really special about the last show of a tour,” Kim said.

Celebrating an impressive 25 years as one of New Zealand’s premier chamber music groups, NZTrio has long been hailed as a “national treasure.”

While its membership has evolved over time, the commitment to excellence and innovation remains unwavering.

“The programme for the tour is incredible but what also makes it very special is we have recently appointed a new permanent cellist and this is his first tour with us.”

This concert will include their new cellist, Matthias Balzat, who has just returned from Germany, and Auckland-based Amalia Hall on violin, and Kim on piano.

The Magnifique programme is a rich and diverse offering, carefully curated to showecase the trio’s dynamic range and musical chemistry.

“Our programme champions a really romantic and lush French work by the composer Camille Saint-Saëns Camille Saint-Saëns [Piano Trio 2 in E minor].  This is such an incredible work," said Kim.

“We also have a gorgeous work by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks [Episodi e canto perpetuo], and I believe it has probably never been performed in New Zealand before.”

Kim said promoting, performing and supporting New Zealand composers was a strong part of NZTrio’s ethos

Thus, they will also perform a new commission by New Zealand composer Linda Dallimore.

Kim said the show would start with a gorgeous and serene piece by Franz Schubert – Notturno in E-flat major.

Kim said as a group they liked to perform a mix of better-known classical contemporary music.

“But I think our audience now expect to hear something they may never have heard of and because we have a level of trust and enthusiasm from our audiences, we are able to do that.”

Kim said performing in smaller venues like the Whakatāne church offered audiences an intimate and organic experience of chamber music, reminiscent of how these pieces were originally intended to be heard.

“We have a very wonderful rapport on stage, plenty of chemistry. We have just been having so much fun making music together and I think we really communicate this to the audience.”

The musician said their roles in NZTrio kept them busy full-time with extensive touring, although they also teach music.

“Amalia is also the concert master of Orchestra Wellington; I do a lot of work with opera singers and play at a lot of national competitions and Matthias recently graduated from the [Heinrich Heine] University Dusseldorf in Germany. He has also been a guest cellist with lots of different festivals, and he toured the country earlier this year with NZ String Quartet for Chamber Music NZ.”

Kim is hoping for a good audience in Whakatane.

“It really is a special concert, and I think the audiences have been having as much fun as we have on stage.”

What: NZTrio Maginifque

Where: Church of St George and St John

When: 1pm, Friday, May 16

Tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz