This is a concert of fascinating contrasts in which the premiere of a new work by Jenny McLeod serves as an introduction to a rare performance of JS Bach’s magnificent Goldberg Variations, played by New Zealand’s most acclaimed pianist. Jenny McLeod’s Six Tone Clock Pieces have been commissioned by Michael Houstoun with funding from Creative New Zealand (thus completing the full set of 24 Tone Clock Pieces). The Bach needs little introduction - it is regarded as a masterpiece and is probably the most important keyboard work of the Baroque era.

The Puertas Quartet founded in London in 2009, has met with considerable success. It features New Zealander Julia Joyce (nee McCarthy), Principal Viola of the NZSO, her husband Andrew Joyce (Principal Cello of the NZSO) and English violinists Ellie Fagg and Tom Norris - a Principal with the London Symphony Orchestra. They will open their concert with a quartet by Haydn, followed by the Ravel Quartet (one of the greatest impressionist works ever written) and ending with Tchaikovsky’s gloriously romantic first quartet.

2011 was a brilliant year for this young Russian violinist. Shortly after winning the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg, he took the top prize in New Zealand’s Michael Hill International Violin Competition, along with the award for best chamber music player and the Audience Prize-just some of the many prizes and awards that Sergey has won since his first triumph as a 12 year old in the Russian Violin Competition in St. Petersburg. For this concert he teams up with Michael Houstoun for a virtuosic recital of works by Schubert (Arpeggione Sonata),Bartok, Schumann and Paganini (La Campanella).

Emma Jardine (violin), Martin Smith (cello) and Benjamin Kopp (piano) are the members of this young trio which was the only Australian group to be accepted to compete in the 2011 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. They are currently based in Geneva, Switzerland, where they are Ensemble-in-Residence at the renowned European Chamber Music Academy. Trios by Haydn (Hob XV/27), Schubert (Op 100) and Ravel (Trio in A minor) make up their very attractive programme.

New Zealand’s most exciting young pianist promises to delight us with this impressive line-up of works by Mozart (Sonata in F, K533), Enescu (Sonata Opus 24), Dorothy Buchanan and Schumann (the great Fantasy in C). The youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Sydney International Piano Competition, John now performs extensively around the world as a soloist and with his prize-winning Saguaro Piano Trio. He is at present based in Hamburg, where between recitals and touring he is working towards his doctorate in piano performance from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
John Chen appears courtesy of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.