The music of friends in Flight

MEDIA RELEASE

The music of friends in Flight

For immediate release / 2 September 2005 / 310 words

Two of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s best known musicians, flautist Bridget Douglas and harpist Carolyn Mills, perform together as Flight.

The pair say the name Flight denotes light, energy and inspiration; elements they like to incorporate into their performances. Bridget describes their chamber music partnership as “vivacious and musically incredibly inspiring.”

Bridget says the flute is the closest instrument to the human voice and that both flute and harp share links to ancient histories and civilisations, being historically very old instruments. She says the combination of flute and harp as Flight "is a natural fit with each other; they complement one another".

Carolyn says she and Bridget enjoy interacting with the audience in a way that only chamber music can allow. “We try to communicate to the audience in a way they can relate to and enjoy and make it come alive”, says Carolyn. “Bridget inspires great music, and I love working with her”.

One of the works Bridget and Carolyn will perform is Pearls of the Sea by New Zealand composer Eve de Castro-Robinson, a new work commissioned by CMNZ for this tour.

"We have enjoyed playing the marvellously evocative music of Eve with both Flight and the NZSO and we are looking forward to performances of her new piece in our upcoming CMNZ concert series", says Bridget. "Pearls of the Sea utilises the dark richness of the bass flute and the sensuous shimmering tones of the harp. There is an exotic and theatrical sense to this beautifully written work."

Also included in their repertoire is a piece by Bernard Andres, featuring techniques that give the flute and harp otherworldly, sensual and eerie qualities.

Flight will perform in Nelson, Palmerston North and New Plymouth in September and Invercargill in October.

For more information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz, email info@chambermusic.co.nz or phone 0800 CONCERT (266 2378).

Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

FLIGHT IN CONCERT

NELSON
Saturday 17 September, Nelson School Of Music, 8pm

MANAWATU
Sunday 18 September, Speirs Centre, PNBHS, Palmerston North, 3pm

NEW PLYMOUTH
Sunday 25 September, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 3pm

SOUTHLAND
Monday 3 October, Centrestage, Invercargill, 8pm

PROGRAMME

JS Bach Sonata in C for flute and continuo
Takemitsu Toward the Sea
Scarlatti Sonatas for solo harp
Bernard Andres Narthex

Interval

Eve de Castro Robinson Pearls of the Sea
Nielsen The Fog is Lifting
Telemann Fantasia for solo flute
de Falla Three Popular Spanish Songs
Alwyn Naiades (Fantasy-Sonata)

ABOUT FLIGHT
Bridget Douglas, flute, Carolyn Mills, harp

Bridget Douglas and Carolyn Mills have been musical collaborators for a number of years. They are both Principal players in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, members of Wellington based contemporary ensemble Stroma and both teach at Wellington’s Victoria University.

Carolyn became the first-ever harpist to win the prestigious Boston University Concerto-Aria Competition and is also the President of the Harp Society of New Zealand. She uses a harp that was made by New Zealand harp maker, Kim Webby, whose harps are in great demand internationally.

Flight last toured for Chamber Music New Zealand’s Associate Societies in 2003, and make their Celebrity Season debut this year.

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