The first of what will be a stunning Waitangi Day double-header - the NZ Trio shares some of their favourite music with us, and then we delve into the tragic life of NZ poet Robin Hyde in Dame Gillian Whitehead's new one-woman opera "Iris Dreaming" in a special adaptation for our Festival.

David Hamilton - The Faraday Cage
Claire Cowan - Ultraviolet
Dame Gillian Whitehead - Iris Dreaming (NZ Premiere)

Joanne Roughton-Arnold, NZTrio

Our wonderful Hungarian virtuoso opens his solo recital with Beethoven’s divine E Minor Sonata and continues with the remarkable Fantasy Pieces of Schumann. The second half is entirely Hungarian - come and hear his special angle on some of the most colourful music of Liszt and Bartok!

Dénes Varjon (piano)

Beethoven - Sonata in E Minor, Op.90
Schumann - Fantasiestücke, Op.12
Liszt - Schlaflos! Frage und Antwort (Sleepless! Question and Answer)
Liszt - Valse oubliée No.1. (Forgotton Waltz)
Liszt - The Fountains at the Villa d'esme
Bartók - Improvisations, Op.20
Bark - Three Hungarian Folk Songs from Csík, Sz.35a
Bark - Old Hungarian Dance Tunes (15 Hungarian Peasant Songs, BB 79: Nos 7-10, 12, 14-15)

The intriguing sounds of South African composer Peter Klatzow's mysterious Adagio Espressivo for violin and marimba open the concert and are followed by Beethoven's wonderful G minor cello sonata in one of many cross-Tasman collaborations in the Festival. Australian Ross Edwards' "Shekina" (the female soul of God) is a synthesis of dance, plainsong and sounds from the natural and cultural environments of Australia and South East Asia. What a journey!

Naoto Segawa (marimba), Monique Lapins (violin), Julian Smiles (cello), Sarah Watkins (piano), Goldner Quartet

Marimba/Violin Duo
Beethoven - Cello Sonata opus 5/2
Ross Edwards - String Quartet Shekina Fantasy (NZ premiere)

Double cellos = double delight! Both in the fresh and vital Vivaldi Double Concerto and in the lusciously romantic Glazunov Quintet, enjoy seeing pairs of cellists sing together. The Goldner Quartet share their masterly interpretation of Mozart’s groundbreaking "Dissonance" Quartet and the NZSQ premiere Helen Fisher’s new quartet, celebrating her birthday and coincidentally, also Rolf's!

Goldner Quartet, New Zealand String Quartet, Matthew Barley (cello), The Troubadours, Joan Perarnau Garriga (double Bass)

Mozart - Quartet in C Major K 465 Dissonance
Helen Fisher - Luminous Night ( World Premiere)
Vivaldi - Concerto for 2 cellos in G minor
Glazunov - Quintet in A Major op.39

Sponsored by Laurie and Peter Rothenberg

A concert of firsts - the first of the cycle of Beethoven's five cello sonatas presented throughout the Festival, the first of our four world premieres, and the first set of luscious Schumann miniatures, which are also dotted throughout the Festival. Added to that we have Denes Varjon’s first chamber music performance in New Zealand - we are proud to have secured this exceptional artist.

Ashley Brown (cello), Sarah Watkins (piano), Dene Olding (violin), Helene Pohl (violin), Dénes Varjon (piano), James Campbell (clarinet)

Beethoven - Sonata for cello and piano Op 5/1
Tabea Squire - Trio for 2 violins and piano (World Premiere)
Schumann - Fantasy Pieces for clarinet and piano

Dedicated to the Festival's Naming Sponsors, Denis and Verna Adam in appreciation of their visionary and long time support, our opening concert will sizzle from start to finish. Music from four centuries and four countries - let the magic begin!

New Zealand String Quartet, Goldner Quartet, James Campbell, Matthew Barley

Sponsored by Nelson Pine Industries
Concert dedicated to Denis and Verna Adam

Due to demand we have created a new Festival Pass category for concert lovers who wish to attend all the concerts in the festival in Premium seats. The Concert Lovers' Pass gives a $100 discount of the full price of Premium seating and includes access to complimentary events such as Meet the Artist sessions, Masterclasses and Festival conversations.

It does not include the Gala Dinner or the Up Close events

Tickets to the Gala Dinner are available now. Festival Lovers' Pass sales close on 30th September.

The Theatre Royal and festival staff will be in touch regarding seating allocation for reserved seated events.

Adam Chamber Music Festival's Gala dinner gives you a gourmet meal, fine wines, a surprise selection from the festival programme, a chance to catch up with old friends - what better way to start your Festival immersion!

New Zealand String Quartet, Goldner Quartet, James Campbell (clarinet), Matthew Barley (cello)

A surprise selection from the Festival programme.

Be prepared in all your floss and finery for this extravaganza.  Buz Bryant Green flies in from China and shines a light on our Steinway, delivering a myriad of colour and character.  Also featuring violinist John Thompson and baritone Robert Tucker, this is a musical feast of local, national and international stars.  Two hands, four hands, six hands, eight hands!  What can’t this Steinway do?? A not-to-be-missed musical bonanza!!

Gather round and listen, as Murray takes us through the Steinway story, from Hamburg to Nelson with love!  Then, the rising stars of the Nelson School of Music come out to shine in this concert featuring our 2015 scholarship winners.