COLOURS OF CHANGE
THE NEW ZEALAND ENSEMBLE

"The New Zealand Ensemble is an adjustable, expandable, shrinkable, versatile group of leading New Zealand artists.

On this, their first recording, we hear just two members of the group; Justine Cormack who is concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia and Sarah Watkins who is currently a staff pianist at The Julliard School in the US. " Colours of Change' is an appropriate collective title for the exciting, challenging music on this CD, three violin sonatas that express the volatility of the early 20th century in striking but different ways.

These three sonatas are a brilliant choice to show off Cormack and Watkins' outgoing style. Cormack's tone is lyrically warm but she also has a potent venom in her attack. Watkins is an exciting aggressive partner, prepared to challenge, equal, and occasionally overpower the violin. The recording is resonant but always clear. In quality of sound it is a match for any import. This is a gloriously unexpected choice for a New Zealand group but it is wildly successful, wild being the operative word. If this is new to you trust the performers - they are great."

Rod Biss "The Classics" - Sunday Star Times, Feb 4, 2001.