the willing air

Eve de Castro-Robinson

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An album of contemporary small ensemble chamber music performed by NZTrio, The Willing Air is a visceral ride of astute sophistication and intellectual acuity. The recording is a welcome addition to the series of albums Eve de Castro-Robinson has released on Rattle over several years, as well as the ever-growing catalogue of excellent recordings featuring NZTrio, one of New Zealand's most significant, highly respected, and rightly revered chamber music ensembles.

"I am very grateful to all involved in the making of this album, especially the stellar NZTrio, whose superb musicianship and willingness to embrace the work of Aotearoa composers have long impressed me. I was particularly lucky to have longtime friend and colleague Ashley Brown in his final recording with the trio.

It’s always satisfying to work with the terrific Rattle team, Steve Garden, Ken Young, and John Kim. Like the performers, they all have an understanding of me and my music, and what more can a composer hope for?!

There's a wistfulness to this album for me, with its acknowledgements of those who have gone on ahead: my late mother Brya who imbued in me a love of poetry, painting, music, and a search for the transcendent; and loved composer friends Jenny McLeod, Martin Lodge, and Gerard Crotty. I was married to artist Ken Robinson for many years. His studio was across the house from my music study, and we shared our creative work closely. He died in 2021."

Eve de Castro-Robinson, February, 2026

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1. the willing air i. The Quiet Place 02:01
2. the willing air, ii. Bring me now your stress and sorrow 01:31
3. the willing air, iii. Breathe 02:14
4. the willing air, iv. The Rock 03:11
5. the willing air v. The Bird’s Wing 01:12
6. the willing air, vi. Let there be silence 01:29
7. Commemoration 03:55
8. At water's birth 09:05
9. Split the Lark 14:09
10. Tumbling Strains 15:20
11. the night-sea sobbing 05:23

Released: 11 March 2026
Catalogue: RAT-D163

New Zealand composer Eve de Castro-Robinson has had works commissioned and performed by a variety of national and international orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists, including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia (with whom she was Composer-in-Residence in 1991), Chamber Music New Zealand, the New Zealand String Quartet, NZTrio, New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, the Nash Ensemble of London, Alexander Ivashkin, Jane Manning, Nicholas Isherwood, and Stephen De Pledge. Her output ranges from large orchestral works to chamber music and electroacoustic pieces.

Eve is a Member of the Board of Trustees of SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. She was twice awarded the SOUNZ Contemporary Award, the Philip Neill Memorial Prize, the APRA Arts Music Fund, and is the recipient of the 2026 Creative New Zealand Lilburn Composer-in-Residence at the New Zealand School of Music. She retired in 2020 as an Associate Professor of Composition at the University of Auckland after 25 years and now works as a freelance composer, music consultant, and writer.