We are fortunate to have the wonderful Helene Pohl from the New Zealand String Quartet as our soloist performing the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor.

Also featuring on the programme :

• Overture on Russian Themes by Rimsky–Korsakov
• Symphony No.2 by Tchaikovsky

Our end of season concert comes from under the northern lights, with much loved music from the following:

Neilson: Helios Overture
Sibelius: Karelia Suite
Sibelius: Valse Triste
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A min, Op 16
Returning to play with us is Louis Lucas–Perry from Nelson, who is currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music.

Almost a ‘Night at the Proms’, with a selection of light music from around the globe with Guest Conductor Sarah Bisley:

Britten: Matinees Musicales

Eric Coates: The London Suite

Eric Coates: By the Sleepy Lagoon

Arthur Bliss: Suite from Things to come

Leroy Anderson: Sandpaper Ballet

Johann Strauss: Memories of Covent  Garden

Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld

Robert Farnon: the Westminster Waltz

A Feast of Spanish Music featuring the popular Rodrigo Guitar Concerto ‘Aranjuez’

This is to be performed by Jane Curry, returning to play with us again after a collaboration in 2013 between The New Zealand Guitar Quartet of which she is a founding member, and the NSO playing the NZ  premier performance of a Rodrigo guitar quartet. Jane is currently a lecturer in classical performance at the NZ School of Music and a passionate teacher of Classical guitar and Chamber Music.

Also on this programme  :

Rhapsody Espagnole  by Ravel

Rhapsody España by Chabrier

Carmen Suite No.1  by Bizet

Guest Conductor Donald Maurice was the last Principal and first Director of the Nelson School of Music during the years 1980-'83. He is currently Professor at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington. He has performed for over four decades as viola soloist, chamber musician and conductor, has given world premieres of many solo and chamber music compositions.

Claire Rouault - PIANO ON TOUR at Lake Rotoiti Chapel

Acclaimed French pianist Claire Rouault will give a recital in the beautiful Lake Rotoiti Chapel on Sunday 30th November, at 5pm.

Claire will be playing Piano on Tour's brand new concert grand piano. This will be a unique recital in a unique setting.

Programme:
- Mozart: Sonata No.11 (with the famous "Alla Turca")
- Debussy: Preludes
- Chopin: Grande Valse Brillante
- Bach: English Suite No.3
- Ravel: Valses Nobles et Sentimentales

"These performances are, quite simply, stunning" BBC Music Magazine

Capturing the spirit of chamber music, the Vienna Piano Trio is a polished gem steeped in the grand Central European musical tradition. Ensemble-in-residence at Vienna's Konzerthaus and with regular performances at the Wigmore Hall, their sophisticated artistic expression has been charming audiences around the world for more than a quarter of a century. The Trio's recordings have earned the highest acclaim including Gramophone Editor's Choice, BBC Radio 3 Record of the Month, The Times Classical Album of the Year and, in July 2010, an ECHO-Klassik for their release of HaydnPiano Trios.

Exploring the diverse flavours of Vienna, the programme features Beethoven's Opus 70 No 2 which followed the completion of his sixth symphony; here the lyrical lines and harmonic exploration are the hallmarks of his maturing style.

"A Trio by Schubert passed across the musical world like some angry comet in the sky", wrote Robert Schumann.

The dramatic musical battle lines of Schubert's final piano trio simmer with constant transformations of passion and pathos.

Be transported to Vienna, the home of chamber music, for a captivating musical experience.

Presented by Chamber Music New Zealand

Chamber Music New Zealand presents INSPIRED BY BACH: Michael Houstoun (piano)

"Harmony, polyphony, rhythmic pulsation and vitality, music as testament of faith, of all this JS Bach is the supreme master and his legacy is infinite." Michael Houstoun
Discover the musical influence of Johann Sebastian Bach in the form of piano transcriptions, homages and a brand new work by Ross Harris. Transcribing for an instrument that did not exist during Bach's time leaves space for interpretation from each composer - hear how they redesign his music to explore their own musical expression.

Known and loved by New Zealand audiences, and praised around the world for his intense and incisive interpretations, Michael Houstoun is a glorious jewel in the crown of New Zealand music. In 2014 Michael gave his brilliant debut at the Edinburgh International Festival in a recital of music including Lilburn's Chaconne and masterpieces by Ravel and Rachmaninov. He now brings the Chaconne to this programme in celebration of the composer's centenary.

"To play across a wide spectrum of repertoire is to encounter JS Bach at every turn. Learning a Prelude and Fugue is really the beginning of a pianist's musical education." - Michael Houstoun

A sublime musical journey through time with New Zealand's most revered pianist.

Emerging stars and youthful ambassadors with a worldly vision.

Committed to representing New Zealand in the arts, CLiK share a Kiwi musical upbringing, and trace their love of chamber music back to the NZCT Chamber Music Contest, with wins in 2001 (John Chen) and 2005 (Natalie Lin, Edward King). They each bring diverse experience and international acclaim to the Trio: John remains the youngest ever winner (at 18 years) of the prestigious Sydney International Piano Competition, Natalie's prize wins include the Audience Prize at the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition and in the same year Edward won a special Lutostawski prize at the Witold Lutostawski International Cello Competition. The programme is a showcase collection of solos and duos, crowned with Schubert's first piano trio. This good natured and lyrical late Schubert work simultaneously mixes power and the intimacy of expression.

John Chen on being part of the Contest..."I learned to love chamber music, and I learned how much I love chamber music."

Edward King on being part of CLiK..."For me it's a great honour and pleasure to play with such good musicians and friends. I have a vivid memory of listening to the radio broadcast of John's Sydney Competition performances and being in total awe of his playing; likewise with Natalie, who I've known since we were in primary school. Since then, we've all moved to different continents. But that is the beauty of chamber music - that it gives us the opportunity to become reacquainted as friends and musicians."

Natalie Lin on what makes the Contest so special...The fact that it is an event the whole nation gets involved in, and any high school student across the country has the chance to participate. It makes the NZ music scene a smaller place and a very supportive community."

Chamber Music New Zealand presents TURNOVSKY JUBILEE ENSEMBLE

Led by charismatic violinist Wilma Smith, this stellar ensemble of Contest Alumni takes to the road.

There is no better way to celebrate the 50th Jubilee of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest than with this fabulous alumni ensemble made up of Contest winners spanning 25 years.

This programme reflects a youthful focus, with Mendelssohn's exuberant Octet, written when he was only 16, and the colourful Simple Symphony by Britten, based on his own piano tunes and composed when he was aged between nine and twelve. Add in some well-loved Bach and our own Douglas Lilburn in his centenary year and you have a recipe guaranteed to delight. Keep an eye out for local players who may join in along the way too.

Wilma Smith says..."Wonderful musical friends from way back together with incredible young musicians I've admired from afar, playing music we all love for a celebration that means so much to all of us - that's a recipe for some serious chemistry!"

Justine Cormack says..."Everyone in this project has a profound love for chamber music. We will be representing the 50 years of music making in the Contest. What a fabulous challenge and incredible honour. I won't be taking that challenge lightly!!"

Ashley Brown says... "The Mendelssohn is a really rich work packed with thrills - it'll be a privilege to perform, and a unique experience for people to witness."

Celebrate the 50th Jubilee of the Contest with this all-star ensemble.
This tour is generously supported by the Turnovsky Endowment Trust.

Presented by Chamber Music New Zealand

"We are utterly thrilled with the unique and dramatic concept that the composers have come up with. We have no doubt that audiences will be totally captivated through this musical journey." NZTrio

Celebrate our musical cultural heritage with a journey of discovery through collaboration, innovation and inspiration. Witness the special connection between composer and performer and the evolving process of composition through to performance.

As part of Chamber Music New Zealand's Our Music Composer Connections tour during New Zealand Music Month this concert features NZTrio performing a programme specially curated by New Zealand composers with the ensemble in mind, showcasing music that deeply influences them in their work.

Composers Alex Taylor, Karlo Margetic and Claire Cowan on collaborating...
"This programme draws together a range of threads that connect us as New Zealand composers. We have built an overall framework rich with contemporary resonances, within which each New Zealand work has its own mini-programme and narrative arc, packing the concert full of energy and stimulation."