A Christmas Present That Lasts A Whole Year

A Christmas Present That Lasts A Whole Year

If you¹re looking for a Christmas gift idea that can be enjoyed throughout all of next year, then you need look no further than a season pass to Chamber Music New Zealand¹s 2005 Celebrity Season.

Return visits from Piers Lane and the Shanghai Quartet, debuts by two top German ensembles, unusual combinations from an Australian trio, a New Zealand duo and an amplified quartet comprises Chamber Music New Zealand¹s 2005 Celebrity Season, promising an eclectic and electrifying season for music fans from March through to October.

The seasons starts with the New Zealand String Quartet, who will amplify their instruments and perform George Crumb¹s Black Angels. The piece is possibly the only quartet to have been inspired by the Vietnam War and will include shouting, chanting, whistling, whispering, gongs, maracas, and crystal glasses, producing a surrealistic effect.

Expressive pianist Piers Lane will perform a recital of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Chopin and Rakhmaninov in April and May. Renowned for the beauty and brilliance of his playing, Piers has wooed audiences all over the world with his "filigree charm" (The Times). This long awaited return visit will be Piers¹s third tour for CMNZ, for whom he first toured in 1997.

Audiences loved the Shanghai Quartet when they last toured for CMNZ in 1998. Described by music magazine The Strad as "a foursome of uncommon refinement and musical distinction", in June they perform a series of "East meets West" concerts with Shostakovich, Beethoven, Brahms and Chinese melodies.

Three Australian musicians make up Dean-Emmerson-Dean, a trio of clarinet, viola and piano. In July and August they will perform works by Mozart, Brahms, and Bruch, together with a piece by the trio's violist, Brett Dean, a prominent and successful composer in his own right. Two of New Zealand¹s finest musicians, Bridget Douglas and Caroline Mills combine as Flight to present other-worldly sounds for flute and harp in August, September and October.

The Celebrity Season ends with two prestigious ensembles from Germany, the Petersen Quartet and the Tichman-Bieler-Kliegel Piano Trio.

The Petersen Quartet will perform works by renowned Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe, Prokofiev and Schubert¹s dramatic quartet, Death and the Maiden. This will be the Petersen¹s first visit to New Zealand.

Maria Kliegel, acclaimed cellist with the Tichman-Bieler-Kliegel Piano Trio, plays the legendary "Ex Gendron" cello made by Stradivarius in 1693. This is the first time the group have toured with Chamber Music New Zealand and to mark the occasion, the trio's recordings of the complete Beethoven Trios for Naxos will be released to coincide with their visit.

Outside the Celebrity Season, Chamber Music New Zealand present two very special events. Synonymous with musical innovation, the Kronos Quartet visit New Zealand for the first time in nine years when they perform in Auckland and Wellington in February and March. Kronos have pushed the edge of chamber music repertoire and continue to change the way audiences experience music.

CMNZ warmly welcomes back Michael Houstoun, who will perform his first two-handed piano recitals since being diagnosed with a movement restricting complaint called focal dystonia in his right hand. Michael will be performing works by Bach, Schubert and Debussy in August and September. "Divine music from first note to last", says Michael. Seating is strictly limited, with preference going to season subscribers.

Purchasing a subscription to the 2005 Celebrity Season is cheaper than buying individual tickets to all concerts. Season, Flexi, Under 19 and School subscriptions are available. For more information or to request a 2005 Celebrity Season brochure ph 0800 CONCERT (266 2378) or visit www.chambermusic.co.nz.

In presenting the 2005 Celebrity Season, Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND CELEBRITY SEASON 2005 ARTISTS

MARCH/APRIL
New Zealand String Quartet (NZ)

Palmerston North - Monday 21 March, Regent on Broadway, 8pm
Napier - Tuesday 22 March, Century Theatre, 8pm
New Plymouth - Wednesday 23 March, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm
Auckland - Thursday 24 March, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Wellington - Thursday 31 March, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Invercargill - Friday 1 April, Centrestage, 8pm
Dunedin - Saturday 2 April, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm
Nelson Monday 4 April, Nelson School of Music, 8pm

APRIL/MAY
Piers Lane (Australia/UK)

Invercargill - Tuesday 26 April, Civic Theatre, 8pm
Dunedin - Wednesday 27 April, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm
Christchurch - Thursday 28 April, The Aurora Centre, 8pm
Auckland - Saturday 30 April, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
New Plymouth - Monday 2 May, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm
Wellington - Tuesday 3 May, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Nelson - Wednesday 4 May, Nelson School of Music, 8pm
Napier - Thursday 5 May, Century Theatre, 8pm
Palmerston North - Saturday 7 May, Regent on Broadway, 8pm

JUNE
Shanghai Quartet (US)

Napier - Friday 17 June, Century Theatre, 8pm
Wellington - Saturday 18 June, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Dunedin - Monday 20 June, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm
Christchurch - Tuesday 21 June, James Hay Theatre, 8pm
Auckland - Wednesday 22 June, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm

JULY/AUGUST
Dean-Emmerson-Dean (Australia)

Auckland - Monday 25 July, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Dunedin - Wednesday 27 July, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm
Invercargill - Thursday 28 July, Centrestage, 8pm
Christchurch - Friday 29 July, James Hay Theatre, 8pm
Napier - Monday 1 August, Century Theatre, 8pm
Palmerston North - Tuesday 2 August, Speirs Centre, 8pm
Wellington - Wednesday 3 August, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Nelson - Thursday 4 August, Nelson School of Music, 8pm

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Flight (NZ)

Nelson Saturday 17 September, Nelson School Of Music, 8pm
Palmerston North - Sunday 18 September, Speirs Centre, 3pm
New Plymouth - Sunday 25 September, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 3pm
Invercargill - Monday 3 October, Centrestage, 8pm

SEPTEMBER
Petersen Quartet (Germany)

Auckland - Friday 9 September, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Wellington - Saturday 10 September, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Christchurch - Monday 12 September, James Hay Theatre, 8pm

OCTOBER
Tichman-Bieler-Kliegel Piano Trio (Germany)

Auckland - Tuesday 11 October, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Palmerston North - Wednesday 12 October, Regent on Broadway, 8pm
Napier - Thursday 13 October, Century Theatre, 8pm
New Plymouth - Saturday 15 October, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm
Wellington - Monday 17 October, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Nelson - Wednesday 19 October, Nelson School of Music, 8pm
Dunedin - Thursday 20 October, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm
Christchurch - Friday 21 October, James Hay Theatre, 8pm

SPECIAL CONCERTS

FEB/MARCH
Kronos Quartet (US)

Auckland - Wednesday 23 February, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Presented as part of Auckland Festival AK05
Wellington - Monday 14 March, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
Michael Houstoun (NZ)

Auckland - Sunday 21 August, Concert Chamber Auckland Town Hall, 3pm
Christchurch - Sunday 28 August, Great Hall, The Arts Centre, 3pm
Wellington - Thursday 1 September, Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Napier - Sunday 11 September, Century Theatre, 3pm

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