The Aroha Quartet has brought chamber music to many New Zealand venues since it was founded in 2004. This year one of their members has taken leave, and so it was the Aroha Ensemble (Haihong Liu, Zhongxian Jin and Robert Ibell) who performed in Dunedin for the first time, presenting a programme entitled Masterworks for String Trio last evening in the Mornington Methodist Church.

An audience of about 40 enjoyed the chamber recital, in the relatively intimate venue which allowed really close-up views of performance skills, with good acoustics, although at times more instrumentally individual rather than tightly blended.

The trio presented repertoire from three well-known composers, beginning with Beethoven, who wrote many works for such chamber groups. String Trio No 3 in G major Op 9 No 1 is quite richly textured for three string instruments and the opening adagio developed with a pleasing lyrical flow. There were plenty of contrasting sections and a final presto which raced along with almost an air of desperation.

I have never quite managed an appreciation for Penderecki's work since my introduction to his Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima as compulsory school certificate study in the '80s. Last evening's String Trio (1991) included many solo spots, interspersed with solid walls of string angst, and still left me struggling for words other than strident, harsh and brutal. I did, however, appreciate the virtuosity required to interpret the drama and various levels of unexpected and unresolved dissonance.

After Penderecki, Mozart's six-part Divertimento for String Trio K563 was comforting and refreshing - refined counterpoint in classical style, excellently articulated. The adagio produced beautiful melodic lines and both minuets were bright and well-paced, with the second accorded an infectious waltz character.

Overall this was a fine recital of music for strings, with very professional interpretation and delivery.