10 Questions with Martin Smith

Cellist Martin Smith recently joined the NZSQ and we wanted to get to know him a little better via our long-standing series “10 Questions with.” Originally from Australia, Martin brings with him a wealth of musical experience and a clutch of accolades (including the prestigious German ECHO Klassik Prize), after more than 20 years based in Europe. He is celebrated for his virtuosity and musical insight and has performed as soloist and chamber musician with leading ensembles and orchestras around the world.

1.      Welcome to Aotearoa and the NZSQ Martin! Can you tell us a little bit about where you grew up?

I grew up in Waverton, a suburb of Sydney. It was also where I had my very first job, as a butcher’s assistant at the local butcher shop. Not exactly a typical part of a cellist’s musical education, but certainly a nice change from practicing scales.

2.      How did you get into music and playing the cello?

I have my mum to thank for getting me started on the cello. She’s a cellist herself, so I grew up falling asleep to the sound of her practicing in the evenings. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I caught the cello bug too. Mum was my first teacher, but we both pretty quickly realised that this particular arrangement wasn’t going to work for either of us - let’s just say I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about practicing in those early days. I went on to study with the wonderful Susan Blake at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which worked out better for everyone!

3.      Tell us about what you had been up to in the past few years, before joining the NZSQ?

Prior to joining the NZSQ, I had been based in Berlin for the past two decades. I originally only planned to stay for a short while, as I was hoping to return to Australia and become a pilot. Fast forward 23 years, and I still have an apartment there, and have very recently become a German citizen. So clearly, things didn’t quite go according to plan! I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent my formative years in such an inspiring and culturally rich city. Berlin has shaped me enormously, both personally and musically, and I’m really looking forward to bringing a little bit of that with me to New Zealand.

4.      Why did you want to join the NZSQ?

From a very young age, I always wanted to play in a professional string quartet. I’d travel to the US and Europe every summer to attend chamber music festivals and meet musicians from all over the world. The very first CD I ever bought with my own money, was the Alban Berg Quartet’s complete live recording of the Beethoven string quartets. I’m pretty sure I almost burnt a hole through the disc, given the number of times I listened to it on my portable Sony Discman. 

Since then, I’ve followed my love of chamber music through various different formations. I had a piano trio in Geneva for a few years, and later a string trio based in Lyon. But I never really imagined that I’d have the opportunity to audition for a quartet as renowned as the NZSQ. To now be part of such a welcoming and engaged ensemble is something I feel incredibly fortunate about. It’s a pretty special feeling to find yourself doing something you’ve wanted to do since you were a kid - and I’m thrilled that I get to do it with the NZSQ.

5.      What’s so special about the string quartet as an art form?

In 2000, I was incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to work with Paul Katz of the Cleveland Quartet. I asked him one day why he loved playing string quartets so much. His answer was: “Because it’s the most human of all art forms. You work with people who you aren’t related to, yet they become some of the closest people in your life. You experience the highs and lows collectively and, in the end, all of you decide to turn up the next day and do it all again. Also, the repertoire ain’t bad either.”

I completely agree…

6.      You’ve already been on tour the past few weeks as the official cellist of the NZSQ. What has been a memorable moment while on tour?

One of the great privileges of being part of the NZSQ, is being able to travel to such unique and beautiful places around New Zealand. One moment that stands out in particular was driving the State Highway from Kaikōura to Blenheim. The rugged coastline, the seal colonies along the way and the incredible Marlborough region made it one of the most spectacular road trips I’ve ever been on. 

7.      What do you like to do when you’re not playing the cello?

I used to be part of a swimming squad in Berlin. It was a real motley crew of people from all sorts of backgrounds, led by an overly enthusiastic trainer from the former East. We’d meet most mornings at 5am, where he would scream and yell at us, although most of us took little notice. In the end, having to wake up at 4.45am and ride my bike through the dark snowy Berlin mornings caught up with me, and after the Covid lockdown, I decided not to go back. I regret nothing!

8.     Has anything surprised you about New Zealanders and our way of life, since your arrival?

One thing that has definitely impressed me about New Zealanders is their “can-do” attitude - especially when it comes to the weather. Particularly in Wellington. The first time I came to play with the NZSQ was in the middle of October. As we approached Wellington Airport, the plane had to do a go-around and come back for a second attempt because of the wind. The pilot calmly mentioned something about a “light breeze” preventing us from landing, which was met with barely a reaction from the other passengers. I, on the other hand, was keeled over, white-knuckled, thinking, “I’ve had a good life…”

9.      Is there a particular composer or style of music that you’d love to introduce to NZSQ audiences?

I’m not sure if this qualifies, but there is definitely one particular style of music that I would love to NEVER introduce NZSQ audiences to. Back in my early days in Berlin, I was once asked by a composer to spontaneously rap live on stage whilst playing the cello, as part of an improvised set. I don’t know what made me think I could actually do it, but it turns out I definitely couldn’t. And alas, my future career as the world’s first rapping cellist came to an abrupt end. Luckily, this was in the days before smartphones and YouTube, so I’m almost certain there is no documentation of the incident.

10.  When all is said and done, the All Blacks are really the best team, right?

Sure - in the same way we all know which country pavlova, flat whites and Russell Crowe really come from…

Learn more about Martin's incredible career here

Catch Martin and the NZSQ on upcoming concerts here