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The Eggner Trio take chamber music into the realm of the snazzy.
The epitome of elegant grooming, the three Austrian brothers - pianist Christoph, violinist Georg and cellist Florian - are unmistakably siblings.
During their 2006 tour, their combination of sartorial style and first-rate music-making was a winner.
Florian Eggner left New Zealand two years ago with vivid images of our country's natural beauties and of the people who had come to hear them. "The audiences were really nice and one of the best things about the trip. They were sitting there, through every concert, totally absorbing the music we were playing."
Prior to this, their only visit Downunder was a momentous one in 2003 when they carried off first prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. Three air-fares had been well invested. "We knew it was a really big competition and that if we did well, it would be an international breakthrough for us, and that's why we are in New Zealand."
We go back to when he was 10 years old and could finally manage the cello parts of some Haydn Trios, allowing the three brothers to make music together. "Christoph was nearly eight years older than me and was already in Paris studying, so we only had time to get together during summer holidays."
After individual studies, all three ended up in Vienna in 1997 and were determined to become a professional ensemble.
"We had grown up in the smaller city of Linz. When we went to Vienna, there was such a variety of cultural things going on, including five main concert halls where you could go on a daily basis and see something different. The city was almost littered with music."
All three brothers feel the musical traditions associated with Vienna are ingrained in their musical philosophy.
"The Viennese cherish their traditions. That is why people come from abroad to study there. It's not only the teachers and the prestige but the whole city and its vibe."
Opening next Tuesday's concert with Beethoven's E flat Trio Opus 70 no 2, Eggner sees the work as the link between the composer's Ghost and Archduke Trios that they perform on their electrifying first CD. "You can really feel Beethoven's development from the impassioned and outgoing Ghost Trio to the more sensitive and cerebral Archduke. The E flat work lies in between."
He stresses the care taken in choosing a recording venue - the library of an old chapel in Munich in this case. "We really pretended there was an audience out there because you should never play just to a microphone."
The Eggners are enjoying their tour wending its way to Auckland, with a Hamilton performance on Saturday night, trios by Mozart and Tchaikovksy replacing Auckland's Beethoven and Brahms.
Both programmes include John Psathas' Island Songs; as close to standard piano trio repertoire as any of our composers have managed.
The Austrians have been rewarded as Psathas' work has gone down well in Christchurch and two gigs at the Bay of Islands Arts Festival.
"We identified with Island Songs the moment we heard it and it is so good to find contemporary pieces make such an impact with our audiences."
What: Eggner Trio
Where and when: WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton, Sat 8pm; Auckland Town Hall, Tues Apr 8, 8pm
On disc: Beethoven Piano Trios (Live Classics LCL 806)
