Upcoming Events

The 2024 National Secondary Schools’ Brass Bands presents Kia Kotahi Tātou!

Come along and enjoy the National Secondary Schools’ Brass Band and Development Band in concert. The talent of the young brass and percussion musicians will blow you away. The 2024 National Secondary Schools Brass Band comprises 80 young musicians from around the country. Having rehearsed together during a 5-day training course, this concert is an opportunity to put their performance skills to the test. Under the baton of musical directors Vickie van Uden and Linda Filimoehala, the bands' enthusiasm is infectious, making the performance an inspiring musical experience. Performing with the bands are New Zealand current and former Champion of Champion soloists - soloists Mike Ford and Kay MacKenzie.

Come along and see for yourself. Plus, you can follow the lead-up to the concert tour on our Facebook page.

Featuring original works by NZ composers Jack Bewley, Richard Puanaki, and Leighton Ginever, and arrangements by Te Reo Genefaas and Leighton Ginever.

By popular request we have a return visit from this exciting piano duo of Nicole Chao and Beth Chen who are touring their programme “Fan Favourites” – music by Bach, Schubert, Ravel, Rachmaninoff & Psathas.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

Muriwai is a new musical collaboration of Ariana Tikao and Bob Bickerton.

The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro. Long-time collaborators, the pair have now developed a major work which journeys through time and place starting with a Kāi Tahu creation story relating to water, through to the arrival of people in Te Waipounamu, our impact on the environment, and imagined consequences of our actions.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Art meets string quartet at Creative Arts Napier.

Surrounded by the exhibition Warhol & Friends, the New Zealand String Quartet (NZSQ) will bring pop art into a new dimension with a programme of fresh and familiar classical works. As part of their 2024 season, Soundscapes, the NZSQ is taking chamber music outside of the traditional concert hall to explore the way music connects us with our surroundings. From eco-sanctuaries to art galleries, to community centres, imaginative programmes collide headfirst with unique spaces creating epic, multi-sensory experiences.

The New Zealand String Quartet recently welcomed a wonderful new musician to the ensemble, violinist Peter Clark. This concert is one of his first performing with the Quartet as second violinist. Come along to give Peter a big NZSQ welcome!

Drinks and nibbles will be available to purchase on the night. Whether you're a classical music fan, an art enthusiast, or simply looking for a memorable night out, this concert is not to be missed.

Full concert programme to be announced soon.

No Need to be an Expert:
The concert programme, crafted in the NZSQ’s signature style, aims to engage audiences of all levels of familiarity with chamber music. Each piece of music is preceded by a lively and informative introduction delivered by the Quartet members themselves. These introductions seek to shed light on the stories behind the music, making it an enriching experience suitable for all audiences.

Photo by Latitude Creative, taken at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

Nature lovers and music aficionados alike will have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in a magical fusion of music and the natural world. This October the New Zealand String Quartet – Te Rōpu Tūrū o Aotearoa brings Sounds of the Sanctuary to Rosewood Cape Kidnappers - an unforgettable experience that evokes the beauty of nature and birdsong.

Encircled by Cape Sanctuary’s predator-proof fencing, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers provides a lucky few with this immersive experience in the gorgeous setting of one of the world’s most revered luxury lodges.

The carefully curated programme begins with Gareth Farr's Te Kōanga, a celebration of life and regeneration that echoes the rejuvenation of Aotearoa’s lush flora and fauna. Haydn's opus 64, no.5, famously known as The Lark, follows, with its melodies that soar like the bird, echoing the vibrant avian life that thrives within the nearby protected haven of Cape Sanctuary. Gillian Whitehead's Poroporoaki pays homage to the cultural and natural heritage of New Zealand, weaving a sonic tapestry that bridges the past and present. The concert concludes with Dvořák's String Quartet no. 12, opus 96, the beloved American Quartet. Its sweeping melodies evoke the spirit of exploration and adventure, mirroring the diverse ecosystems found within Aotearoa.

Tickets for the performance are available for $99 per person, which includes a welcome drink and gourmet canapés prepared by the culinary team at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers. For a truly indulgent experience, consider extending your visit to include a luxurious five-course tasting menu at the lodge. Tickets for the concert with dinner included are priced at $299 per person.

Sounds of the Sanctuary promises an extraordinary experience, celebrating New Zealand's breathtaking natural world and the power of music to connect with the beauty that surrounds us.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Carlo Antonioli | Conductor
Julian Bliss | Soloist

Ligeti | Romanian Concerto
Ross Harris | Clarinet Concerto (world premiere)
Artie Shaw | Clarinet Concerto
Dvořák | Symphony No. 8 in G Major Op. 88

We welcome two international guests to CSO for the first time: conductor Carlo Antonioli, 2023 Assistant Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra who is rapidly establishing himself across Australia; and versatile British clarinettist Julian Bliss.

This concert puts the clarinet on display, with the world premiere of a new clarinet concerto by Aotearoa composer Ross Harris written especially for our soloist; paired with the toe-tapping Clarinet Concerto of famous 1930s American jazz clarinettist and band leader Artie Shaw.

Audiences are also treated to music by two composers who had a great affinity with the folk music of their respective regions. Dvořák wrote nine symphonies, with much of his music infused with the flavours of Czech folk music – his bubbly eighth symphony from 1889 will conjure up a birdfilled forest walk near Dvořák’s country home. Fast-forward 60 years to György Ligeti’s Romanian Concerto, which brings to life a range of Romanian folk music that Ligeti loved, through instrumental colours and lively rhythms.

Nature lovers and music aficionados alike will have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in a magical fusion of music and the natural world. This October the New Zealand String Quartet – Te Rōpu Tūrū o Aotearoa brings 'Sounds of the Sanctuary' to Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre - an unforgettable experience that evokes the beauty of nature and birdsong.

Audiences will enjoy a concert of classical works for string quartet, nibbles and a drink on arrival and stunning views over Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, all in one ticket.

The carefully curated programme begins with Gareth Farr's 'Te Kōanga,' a celebration of life and regeneration that echoes the rejuvenation of Aotearoa’s lush flora and fauna. Haydn's Op. 64, No.5, famously known as 'The Lark,' follows, with its melodies that soar like the bird, echoing the vibrant avian life that thrives within Pūkaha's protected haven. Gillian Whitehead's 'Poroporoaki' pays homage to the cultural and natural heritage of New Zealand, weaving a sonic tapestry that bridges the past and present. The concert concludes with Dvořák's String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, the beloved 'American Quartet.' Its sweeping melodies evoke the spirit of exploration and adventure, mirroring the diverse ecosystems found within Aotearoa.

'Sounds of the Sanctuary' promises an extraordinary audience experience, celebrating New Zealand's breathtaking natural world and the power of music to connect with the beauty that surrounds us.

“Wonderful, impressive and spirited performance against a glorious backdrop of cloud forest and sunset." - Otago Daily Times (Review of 'Sounds of the Sanctuary' at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, May 2024)

Musicians: Helene Pohl, Violin I; Peter Clark, Violin II; Gillian Ansell, Viola; Rolf Gjelsten, Cello.

Photo by Latitude Creative, taken at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

October 26 - 7:30pm
October 27 - 7:30pm
October 28 - 2:00pm

Horizons brings music, poetry and song from the old world and the new to map a story that bears witness to the ambiguous emotions of migration: the inescapable loss and trauma, the unexpected beauty and joy, the cruelty and violence and the endless and often futile dreams of a new home.

In this special immersive concert experience, audiences will be free to sit, stand or move around the ‘set’ following choir, storyteller Nathaniel Lees and the sound of drums to a peaceful pasture of chamomile, the excited hubbub of a bustling market and the craggy promontories of farewell.

Songs, stories and experiences from lands very much warmer than this one to snow-covered peaks thousands of miles away from here will open your hearts to the ebb and flow, the tragedy, tumult and celebration experienced by people from around the globe and across the centuries.

Featuring Huwiyati Muhajer/Citizens of Horizons by Palestinian Jordanian artist and composer Shireen Abu-Khader, alongside works by Ériks Ešenvalds, Bob Chilcott, Antonín Dvořák and Aotearoa composer Takerei Komene, Horizons will leave no heart untouched, no soul unstirred.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Award-winning musicians and collaborators Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) and Bob Bickerton have joined forces to create Muriwai. The name refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through Celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Byrd The Earl of Oxford’s March
Gabrieli Sonata pian’ e forte
Giazotto Adagio in G minor
Clarke The Prince of Denmark’s March
Gemma Peacocke New work for Brass and Percussion (world premiere)

The majesty and grandeur of brass instruments has been celebrated since the Renaissance. Not just for their power, either. They’re thrilling when played softly, too, and indeed the title of Giovanni Gabrieli’s piece means ‘Quiet and Loud Sonata’ because it was one of the first pieces to specify the level of volume with which the instruments should be played.

This programme explores brass music from Elizabethan England to the present day, with New Zealander Gemma Peacocke being the latest composer to fall under its spell.

Notes Fund - Music for this concert has been supported by Anne Norris & Anne Stewart and Neil Cording

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Carl Maria von Weber | Overture from the Opera “Der Freischütz“
Carl Maria von Weber | Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor op.73
Gareth Farr (NZ) | Waipoua for clarinet and strings
Antonin Dvořák | Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World"

Join the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra and Jonathan Cohen, principal clarinet with the Auckland Philharmonia in an afternoon of sumptuous music exploring the bold and beautiful world around us.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

SOUNZ Commission for Orchestra and Arohanui Strings

Porgy and Bess | George Gershwin (1898 – 1937), arr. Russ Garcia (1916 – 2011)
Deborah Wai Kapohe
Eddie Muliaumaseali'í
Siliga Sani Muliaumaseali'í
Signature Choir

Gershwin based his opera on a 1925 novel by DuBose Heyward about a crippled Charleston man who got around on a goat-cart. The novel, turned into a play by DuBose and his wife, became a tremendously successful play. In 1934, Gershwin was invited to the Heyward’s summer house at Folly Beach, near Charleston. Catfish Row, the fictional location of Porgy and Bess, is based on a street in nearby James Island mostly inhabited by the Gullahs, descendants of the African coastal towns who made their living as fishermen and stevedores. Gershwin immersed himself in the Gullah’s musical and speech rhythms, and attended their religious revivals, which had their own unique vocal patterns. The result, which Gershwin called a folk opera, blended classical, jazz, gospel, spirituals and blues in a completely new way. The story of between Porgy, a crippled beggar blessed with optimism, and Bess, an outcast woman cursed with a violent jailbird boyfriend, is rich with drama, danger, love, danger and compassion.

Russ Garcia arranged the opera in 1956 for the second complete recording of the opera and the first to use, instead of classically-trained performers, jazz singers (in this case Mel Torme and Frances Faye) and musicians drawn from, among other groups, the Duke Ellington Band. Garcia recorded it again in 1957 with Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in the lead roles, and a big orchestra of strings, horns and woodwinds. The album won a Grammy Hall of Fame award.

Carl Maria von Weber | Overture from the Opera “Der Freischütz“
Carl Maria von Weber ** | Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor op.73
**Gareth Farr (NZ) | Waipoua for clarinet and strings
Antonin Dvořák | Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World"

Join the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra and Jonathan Cohen, principal clarinet with the Auckland Philharmonia in an afternoon of sumptuous music exploring the bold and beautiful world around us.

Giuseppe Tartini | Devil’s Trill Sonata
Béla Bartók | 3 Burlesques, Op 8
Eugéne-Auguste Ysaÿe | Sonata No 5
Henryk Wieniawski | Polonaise de concert, Op 4
Michael Norris | Waipounamu or Gillian Whitehead | Bright Silence
Frédéric Chopin | Andante spianato and grande polonaise brillante, Op 22
Camille Saint-Saëns | Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor, Op 75

South Korean born Yeyeong Jenny Jin is the winner of many awards including most recently, the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Also from South Korea, 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition winner, Jeonghwan Kim will be joining Jenny on this 11-centre tour.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Fanny Mendelssohn | Trio in D minor
Joan Tower | Trio Cavany
Eva Bedggood | New Work (commissioned by Christopher’s Classics)
Ethel Smyth | Trio in D minor

We begin in 19th Century Germany with Fanny Mendelssohn’s ‘Trio in D minor’, a magnificent work by the renowned German composer. With melodies that soar and emotions that run deep, this piece offers a glimpse into the turbulent emotional landscape of its creator. Next, we venture into the contemporary realm with the power and subtlety of Joan Tower’s ‘Trio Cavany’. We proudly present a new commission by kiwi composer Eva Bedggood, offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice. Our musical odyssey concludes with Ethel Smyth’s impassioned piano trio, a powerful and evocative composition that showcases the depth of emotions and creative brilliance of the British composer at the beginning of her career.

Hour of Lead | Eve de Castro Robinson (1956-)
War Requiem | Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976)
Morag Atchison - soprano
Benson Wilson - baritone
The Orpheus Choir of Wellington

Britten was steeped in the English choral tradition and its liturgical music. In 1962, he was able to fulfil his long-held desire to compose a large‑scale choral work when he was asked to provide music for the dedication of Coventry Cathedral, rebuilt after Luftwaffe bombs Coventry’s beloved 14th-century Cathedral. An important symbolic occasion, it allowed Britten to air in public his pacifist beliefs and his faith in humanity’s capacity for compassion. In a break from tradition, he blended the traditional Latin mass for the dead with nine of Wilfred Owens’ poems from WW1. In Britten’s own words, he offered the War Requiem as “an act of reparation”. On the title page of the score, he quoted the poet, "My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity …All a poet can do today is warn.”

The Requiem requires huge forces: a very large orchestra, a smaller chamber orchestra which accompanies the soloists, two organs, three soloists, main chorus, and boys’ choir. When it was first recorded, the Requiem sold 200,000 copies within five months — a rare example of a contemporary work that was immediately embraced by the public.

Stravinsky noticed, and sniped, "Behold the critics as they vie in abasement before the wonder of native-born genius. Kleenex at the ready, and feeling as though one had failed to stand up for God Save The Queen, one goes from the critics to the music…”

Britten could give as well as take, saying of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, "I liked the opera very much. Everything but the music."