Discover Mozart and Brahms In Unique Mini Festival 23 Aug 2016
Related articles
MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release
Discover
Mozart and Brahms Experience In Unique Chamber Music New
Zealand Mini Festival
The New
Zealand String Quartet and Grammy-nominated
American violist James Dunham immerse
themselves in Brahms and Mozart for a unique full day Mini
Festival in Wellington in September.
The QuintEssence Mini Festival on Saturday 17 September, featuring three concerts and a seminar, is part of a special seven centre Chamber Music New Zealand tour which runs until Saturday 1 October.
QuintEssence sees the
quintet perform concerts in Hawke’s Bay, New Plymouth,
Nelson and Dunedin and full day mini festivals in Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch.
The QuintEssence Mini Festivals are new for Chamber Music New Zealand with a unique programme of three concerts exploring the best of Mozart’s quintets paired with the complete Brahms’ string quartets allin one day. The day begins with a coffee concert by young New Zealand musicians Pettman Players followed by two performances by New Zealand String Quartet and James Dunham separated by a free seminar with Frances Moore which will explore the influence of the Brahms and Mozart quintets.
This tour is the first time the New Zealand String Quartet has performed with James Dunham. Violinist Helene Pohl says she was taught by members of the Cleveland Quartet, of which James later became a member. “I can't wait to share the stage with this wonderful musician and gracious human being, who shared the stage with some of my most influential mentors!”
Mozart and Brahms are recognised as two of the best known classical music composers, but came from very different backgrounds – Mozart struggling to make a living from his music and dying poor at the age of 36; while Brahms was popular as a composer and was able to devote his time to his music without having to find other employment.
Both composers wrote music for double-viola quintets. When Mozart wrote his first quintet, he created a new sound world that he continued to explore for the rest of his life and his later quintets are considered to be at the pinnacle of the chamber music repertoire. A century later Brahms was inspired to write two of his most eloquent chamber works for the same combination.
The QuintEssence Mini Festival also includes a newly commissioned work by young New Zealand composer Salina Fisher, Torino – echoes on putorino improvisations by Rob Thorne.
New Zealand String Quartet violist Gillian Ansell says Fisher is a composer whose music the ensemble has admired for some time. “She has a very strong grasp of colours, textures and atmospheres. The piece is slow and looks haunting, with one of the sections being titled ‘Lamenting’ – just up my alley!”
Gillian adds that the subtitle offers clues about the piece. The putorino is a flute which functions both as a trumpet and as a flute, and can be sung into. “We will be using techniques to imitate the flute and trumpet sounds the putorino can make and telling a story at the same time.”
New Zealand String Quartet cellist Rolf Gjelsten said the Mini Festival gives listeners an opportunity to gain a deeper connection with these great works. “Hearing groups of linked pieces in a concentrated way like this allows each to shed a light on the other. With more exposure and greater understanding comes greater appreciation, so festivals like this can leave a lasting impression on the listener, not to mention the performers!”
The Mini Festival also includes ‘Five On A Musical Adventure’ – a free seminar presented by opera director, writer and teacher Frances Moore who will discuss elements of music around the Brahms and Mozart quintets – who they were composed for, who heard them, how they were received and how the ‘meaning’ of the works has changed over the years.
“When we say we can hear 'Spring' or 'joyfulness' in Brahms and Mozart's quintets, what do we mean? Is it really possible to say that a musical phrase is about a bubbling brook or a stormy night?”
The
QuintEssence Mini Festival: The New Zealand String
Quartet and James Dunham is at the Michael Fowler
Centre on Saturday 17 September. Ticket options include full
day or individual concerts and tickets are available through
Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz or phone 0800
TICKETEK (842 538). For details and booking information
visit www.chambermusic.co.nz/quintessence
________________________________________
ENDS
Mozart and Brahms face off … find out more here
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more