Star Cellist Maria Kliegel Visits NZ

Star Cellist Maria Kliegel Visits NZ

Star cellist Maria Kliegel will perform in New Zealand with the Xyrion Trio in October.

Maria plays the legendary "Ex Gendron" cello made by the famous Italian instrument maker, Antonio Stradivarius. For more than 30 years, the cello was owned by renowned French cellist Maurice Gendron and has been loaned to Maria by the Foundation for the Arts and Culture of North Rhine Westphalia.

Maria appears as a guest soloist all over the world. She was even invited by the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, to give a private recital.

Maria will be touring New Zealand with fellow German musicians Ida Bieler (violin) and Nina Tichman (piano), as the Xyrion Trio. The group¹s name is pronounced ŒZiri-on¹, like ŒXena, Warrior Princess¹. "It´s a fantasy name", says Nina. "We were looking for something short, peppy and mysterious!"

The trio enjoy a close friendship when not performing as the Xyrion Trio. Nina and Ida have known each other since childhood and met Maria when they performed a Beethoven work together. Nina says the group enjoy the spontaneous creativity of performing chamber music. "The best thing about performing with the Maria and Ida is their sense of humor, musical imagination and curiosity and considerateness", says Nina.

The Xyrion Trio will also give masterclasses with students from the New Zealand School of Music at the Hunter Council Chamber at Victoria University of Wellington on Sunday 16 October.

This is the first time the Xyrion Trio have toured for CMNZ and to mark the occasion, the trio's recordings of the complete Beethoven Trios for Naxos will be released to coincide with their visit.

For more information log onto www.chambermusic.co.nz or phone 0800 CONCERT (266 2378).

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

ENDS

For more information please contact Communications Co-ordinator Rachel Service on (04) 384 6133 or email media@chambermusic.co.nz.

XYRION TRIO IN CONCERT

AUCKLAND
Tuesday 11 October, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (09) 307 5000 (service fees apply)
Tickets $60 A reserve, $50 B reserve
Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

PALMERSTON NORTH
Wednesday 12 October, Regent on Broadway, 8pm
Book at TicketDirect, ph 0800 484 2538 (a transaction fee may apply)
Tickets $45. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

NAPIER
Thursday 13 October, Century Theatre, 8pm
Book at Century Theatre, ph (06) 835 7781 (a transaction fee may apply)
Tickets $50. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

NEW PLYMOUTH
Saturday 15 October, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (06) 759 0021 (service fees apply)
Tickets $45. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

WELLINGTON
Monday 17 October Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (04) 384 3840 (service fees apply)
Tickets $60 A reserve, $50 B reserve. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

NELSON
Wednesday 19 October, Nelson School of Music, 8pm
Book at Nelson School of Music, ph (03) 548 9477 (a transaction fee may apply)
Tickets $45. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

DUNEDIN
Thursday 20 October Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (03) 477 8597 (service fees apply)
Tickets $45. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required)

CHRISTCHURCH
Friday 21 October, James Hay Theatre, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (03) 377 8899 (service fees apply)
Tickets $50 A reserve, $45 B reserve. Student Rush subject to availability on the night from 7pm (ID required).

PROGRAMME

Auckland, New Plymouth & Nelson:

Lera Auerbach Piano Trio Opus 28
Beethoven Piano Trio in E flat Opus 70 No 2

Interval

Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor Opus 50

Palmerston North, Napier, Wellington, Dunedin & Christchurch:

Beethoven Piano Trio in D Opus 70 No 1 ŒThe Ghost¹
Ravel Piano Trio in A minor (1915)

Interval

Mendelssohn Piano Trio No 2 in C minor Opus 66

ABOUT THE XYRION TRIO
Ida Bieler, violin; Maria Kliegel, cello; Nina Tichman, piano

The Xyrion Trio are based in Germany and comprise of violinist Ida Bieler, cellist Maria Kliegel and pianist Nina Tichman. Each member is an accomplished performer in her own right and their performances have been enthusiastically acclaimed.

Ida plays a violin made by Tomasso Baletrieri in 1750. She is in demand as a teacher and a judge at international masterclasses and competitions all over the world. Ida was also a member of the Melos Quartet for many years.

Maria appears regularly as a guest soloist at venues all over the world. She has an interest in exploring new works. Composer Wilhelm Kaiser-Lindemann wrote a work dedicated to Nelson Mandela and Maria was invited by the former South African President to give a private recital of the work.

A graduate of the famous Julliard School, Nina has won many prestigious competitions and appears as a soloist with orchestras and in recital the world over. She has appeared in the major music centres of the world. Her diverse activities as recitalist, chamber musician and teacher have led to invitations to festivals, and often has premieres of works dedicated to her. In 1993 Nina was appointed Professor of Piano at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. In 2004 she was invited to perform for the President of Germany.

This will be the first time Maria, Nina and Ida have performed here as the Xyrion Trio. Maria and Nina were last in New Zealand in 2001, when they played in the Naxos International Chamber Festival. This will be Ida¹s fourth visit to New Zealand.

"Maria Kliegel is the best cellist I've heard since Jacqueline du Pré"
Mstislav Rostropovich

"Violinist Ida Bieler's dynamic and impassioned interpretations ooze accomplishment and commitment in every bar, to say nothing of pianist Nina Tichman's robust tone and ability to sustain long lines in continuous arcs"
Classics Today

For more information: http://chambermusic.co.nz/artists/87.php

ENDS

BE SEDUCED: Flight (NZ)

Be seduced by magical music of flute and harp, from two of the NZSO's star players. Flight's NZ tour: 17 Sept - 3 Oct: http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/artists/48.php

© Scoop Media