The Wellington-based Ghost Trio consists of three musicians who have performed in Waikanae, although with different ensembles. Violinist Monique Lapins is well-known as the second violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet, Ken Ichinose (Associate Principal Cello with the NZSO) has frequently visited us as a member of the Amici Ensemble, and sought-after pianist, accompanist and chamber musician Gabriella Glapska was part of a 2022 concert by TrioNique.

Named after Beethoven’s famous piano trio, the Ghost Trio was founded in 2019 as one of Gabriella’s PhD recital projects. Having quickly realised that they immensely enjoyed playing together, the group decided to continue working as a trio. All three are accomplished soloists and chamber musicians with diverse backgrounds. They have toured nationwide for Chamber Music New Zealand’s Music Up Close series, a tour where their performances were described as possessing “elan and unfailing attention to musical detail”.

Two of the greatest and most popular piano trios by Schumann and Ravel will dominate the programme, with some intriguing additions from Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and New Zealander Leonie Holmes.

International concert organist Martin Setchell was born and educated in England, where he gained Honours degrees in Music and French, and earned a Fellowship from the Royal College of Organists. After emigrating to New Zealand, he spent more than 40 years on the staff of the University of Canterbury School of Music before resigning to freelance as a concert organist. He has given many concerts in New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada, Europe, the UK and the Far East, and is also active as a conductor, writer, editor and speaker. He retains his Christchurch connection as organist of the Christchurch Town Hall.

Programme highlights will include standard traditional Baroque works by Bach and Handel, and later compositions by French composers Alexandre Guilmant and Gabriel Fauré. This entertaining programme will continue with arrangements by Martin Setchell and a wide variety of appealing and well-known music from opera, film and other sources.

For those with a special interest in organs, or who remember Martin’s last organ recital, this concert will be performed on a different organ – a Johannes Vivaldi 370 with three manuals and pedal.

Programme

Acclaimed German pianist Michael Endres, well-known to Waikanae audiences for his stunning solo recitals, is joined by violinist Mark Menzies for this varied programme of works by Mozart, Salina Fisher, Schubert and Richard Strauss. Both artists, who first connected through their work at the University of Canterbury, have established international careers. Mark Menzies has a world-wide reputation as a violist and violinist, pianist and conductor. He has been described in the Los Angeles Times as an “extraordinary musician” and a “riveting violinist”.

Michael Endres, whose multiple competition successes include the International Schubert Competition, performs worldwide as soloist and chamber music partner. Described by US critic Richard Dyer as “one of the most interesting pianists recording today” he regularly appears at prestigious festivals. His distinguished teaching career has taken him to universities in Cologne, Berlin and Norway, as well as New Zealand’s Canterbury University.

The programme moves from Mozart through the delicate beauty of Salina Fisher’s Momo no aware to the intensity of Schubert’s demanding Rondo. After the interval we can relish the luxurious romanticism of Richard Strauss’s Sonata.

Programme

After 15 years overseas, pianist Henry Wong Doe returns for his “Back in New Zealand Tour”. Winner of two international competitions (Arthur Rubinstein and Sydney), Henry has been very busy during his absence: concerts with many elite orchestras including the Israel Philharmonic, collaborations with numerous prominent musicians at venues such as Carnegie Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields, multiple recordings and, as an educator as well as performer, holding the position of Professor of Piano Studies at Indiana University.

Henry has recently received a Creative New Zealand grant to commission and record six new works by New Zealand composers, under the title of ‘Perspectives’. One of those pieces will open the concert before we are treated to Beethoven’s magnificent masterpiece, the ‘Waldstein’ Sonata.

The second half of the concert is filled with drama and contrast. The spirit of Argentinian folk music is captured in Alberto Ginastera’s exciting 1952 Sonata. Then, after a brief respite offered by a selection from Debussy’s Children’s Corner Suite, the recital will conclude with the passion, excitement and drama of the magnificent Bach/Busoni Chaconne.

Both of these musicians are familiar faces on our stage, but this is the first time they have performed together as a duo.

In a far-reaching programme ranging from Bach to Hindemith, they draw on their various musical and cultural heritages with works by British, Chinese and New Zealand composers before embarking on one of the giants of the cello/piano repertoire – the Brahms Sonata in F Major. The second of his two Cello Sonatas, this was written in 1886 some 20 years after the first sonata.

Before joining the NZSO as Principal Cellist in 2010, UK born Andrew Joyce played regularly with the London Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras as well as performing as guest principal with other prominent UK orchestras. He is also an enthusiastic chamber musician.

Jian Liu, acclaimed internationally as a pianist, chamber musician and educator, studied in China and the USA and has performed widely throughout Europe, Asia and North America. He is currently the Programme Director of Classical Performance and Head of Piano Studies at the New Zealand School of Music Te Kōki.