Pianist Katherine Austin and cellist James Tennant are familiar to us from the Ogen Trio and the Kandinsky Ensemble. They now teach at the University of Waikato where, with violinist Lara Hall, they have formed the New Zealand Chamber Soloists. Their sumptuously romantic programme includes well-loved trios by Schumann and Rachmaninoff, and introduces the extraordinarily moving music of Armenian composer Babadjanian.

This concert is a double delight – the country’s top chamber ensemble and one of the country’s favourite pianists together in Elgar’s Piano Quintet, a glorious work of sweeping grandeur and melancholy tenderness. The Quartet will also play one of Haydn’s most striking quartets, Opus 74, No 3 The Rider and offer a brief and tantalising taste of the orient with Zhau Long’s Song of the Ch’in.

Donald Armstrong and Cristina Vaszilcsin (violins), Gillian Ansell (viola), Rowan Prior (cello) and Phil Green (clarinet) join forces with the flute and harp duo Flight (Bridget Douglas and Carolyn Mills) for this concert. They will bring us some of the delights of early 20th century France, with music that is characterised by elegance, wit and charm. Highlights include Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, the Clarinet Quintet by Jean Francaix, and for all seven instruments, Ravel’s evocative Introduction and Allegro.

Former Wellington cellist Christopher Hutton now teaches at Furman University in South Carolina where he has formed the Poinsett Trio with his colleagues, German pianist David Gross and American violinist Deirdre Hutton. Beethoven’s first trio will open the concert, followed by the Handel/Halvorsen Passacaglia for string duo and Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie for solo piano. Brahms’ magnificent Opus 87 Trio takes pride of place in the second half.

In recent years we have had some memorable concerts from winners of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition and this should be no exception. The 2009 winner returns for a nationwide tour accompanied by the incomparable Michael Houstoun. Brilliant young Czech violinist Josef Špaček has won numerous awards and competitions including the grand prize at the Kocian International Violin Competition in the Czech Republic. His programme includes Bach’s famous Chaconne, a Mozart Sonata (K305), Prokofiev’s daunting first Sonata, and, with a nice touch of patriotism, Smetana’s From My Homeland.

The Kerikeri National Piano Competition, described by its patron Michael Houstoun as “by far the best test for young pianists in the solo repertoire in this country”, has launched the careers of many of New Zealand's top pianists. This year's winner is John-Paul Muir from Auckland.
John-Paul has a Masters degree from the University of Auckland and has previously won both the National Concerto Competition and the National Young Performer of the Year. He has performed in the UK and the US and has toured for Chamber Music New Zealand. In September John-Paul will be moving to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music.
John-Paul's programme will include Beethoven Sonatas Op 78 and Op 109, Chopin's Barcarolle and two works by Liszt - Funerailles and Benediction de Dieu.

"No praise could be high enough for Piers Lane whose playing throughout is of a superb musical intelligence, sensitivity, and scintillating brilliance" (Gramophone)

We are immensely proud to present this internationally renowned pianist in the only solo recital he will give while in New Zealand for a chamber music tour. His programme is sheer bliss for all lovers of great piano music – Schubert Dances, Brahms’ Opus 119 Klavierstucke and Beethoven’s profound Opus 110 Sonata. Then, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth, a second half devoted to the magical sound-world of Chopin.

Please note: Special prices apply for this concert. Bookings are essential.