NZSQ | Christophers Classics

Holmes | Fragment II
Haydn | String Quartet No. 3 in E flat, Op. 71
Shostakovich | String Quartet No. 14, Op. 142
Brahms | String Quartet No. 3 in B flat, Op. 67

A farmer, a skier in his younger years, and a lover of classical music, English born Christopher Marshall attended symphony orchestra concerts from the age of eight. It was only after moving to New Zealand in the 1980’s, however, that music became a larger part of his life.​Back in 1987, concerts he and wife Jilly hosted at their North Canterbury home for the Ashley and Waimakariri community arts councils attracted enthusiastic audiences from the start. By 1996, realising that the artists they presented rarely performed in Christchurch, Christopher initiated a series of Sunday afternoon concerts in the beautiful Great Hall in the Christchurch Arts Centre. ‘Sunday Classics’ was born. Later, a move from Sunday afternoons to mid-week evening concerts gave impetus to a new brand, ‘Christopher’s Classics’, offering five to six well patronised concerts a year. The series continued despite having to move to new locations after the Christchurch earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011. From 2011 until May 2016, most concerts took place in Christchurch’s lovely old St Michael and All Angels Church, and in August 2016, they transferred to the wonderful new purpose-built venue, The Piano.