We are particularly excited to present two world premieres in this programme! Starting with Kevin Puts' stirring and uplifting trio, one of Ian Rosenbaum's favourite chamber music pieces, continuing with two hot-off-the-presses NZ works, by up-and-comer Natalie Hunt and the effervescent Gareth Farr, and ending with one of Mozart's most sublime creations.

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

Puts - Trio for marimba, clarinet and violin
Natalie Hunt - Quartet for clarinet, violin, viola and cello (Festival commission - *World Premiere)
Gareth Farr - String Octet (Festival commission -*World Premiere) - performance dedicated to Denis and Verna Adam
Mozart - String Quintet in C K515

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

An exciting evening with a mix of audience favourites and the premier performance of a new work will mark a milestone for our orchestra - our 50th year as Nelson’s Symphony Orchestra.

Conductor: John Rimmer

Reznicek: Overture Donna Diana
John Rimmer: Haiku (Premier)
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue Piano Concerto; Soloist: Buz Bryant-Greene
Michael Haydn: Trumpet concerto in D major; Soloist: Raffaele Bandoli
Sibelius: Symphony No 1
arr John Rimmer: "Happy Birthday" for wind

A concert of young and local musicians performing concertos with the Nelson Symphony Orchestra.

Programme
Genevieve Davidson, Saxophone - Glazunov Op 109
JunWha Shin, French Horn - Strauss - concerto no 1
Claudia Tarrant-Matthews, Violin - Beethoven - Concerto D min mvt 1
Caitlin Morris, Cello - Dvorak - concerto B min mvt 2
Ingrid Schonfeld, Piano - Shostakovich - concerto no 2 mvt 1
Kelly Harris, Voice - Mozart - 'Una Donna Quindicci anni' from Cosi fan Tutte
Courtney Carter, Voice - Spiel ich die unschuld vom Lande
Danny Jones, Piano - Prokofiev - concerto no 3 mvt 1
King Stephen Overture - Beethoven

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.