The Passion and the Percussion

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The Passion and the Percussion

It is not every day that a marimba and a string quartet get together, but in August that is exacting what will happen when the New Zealand String Quartet hook-up with Pedro Carneiro, Portuguese percussionist extraordinaire. Both artists are touring ten centres for Chamber Music New Zealand, and perform on Saturday 25 August, 8pm, Wellington Town Hall.

"The young Portuguese went to the heart of the music… his playing was breathtakingly spectacular." Irish Times

For this tour they are joined onstage by Pedro Carneiro, pre-eminent Portuguese marimba player and percussionist. Pedro enjoys a busy career as a performer, composer and teacher, and has established himself as one of the world’s foremost solo percussionists.

Carneiro took up the piano at the age of five, later studying cello and trumpet. He studied at the Conservatório Nacional in Lisbon and at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Now at the age of 31, Pedro performs regularly at international festivals and venues, and has world-premièred over 80 works by leading composers. He appears regularly with a wide range of acclaimed musicians such as harpsichordist Elisabeth Chojnacka, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, pianists Valentina Lisitsa, Michael Houstoun and Artur Pizarro, and the Arditti, Chilingirian and Shanghai Quartets.

"Pedro Carneiro is a young performer with technique to burn, and he shows great mastery of this music…exhilarating." Fanfare magazine ( USA)

Within the programme contrasts and drama abound as a string quartet by Beethoven sits alongside works for quartet and marimba, NZ composer John Pastas' Kartsigar and One Study, One Summary will also be performed on this tour:

In New Plymouth, the NZSQ and Pedro Carneiro appear as part of the Taranaki Arts Festival; while in Christchurch they appear as part of the Christchurch Arts Festival.

This tour is supported by the Lion Foundation. Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

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Programme Details Programme One John Psathas: Kartsigar Beethoven: String Quartet Opus 131 John Psathas: One Study, One Summary Luis Tinoco: Ends Meet First Movement Egberto Gismonti: Dança Nr. 2 Second Movement Tan Dun: 8 Colours for String Quartet Chen Yi: Sound of the Five Second Movement Eurico Carrapatoso: Suite d’Aquém e d’Além Mar, Movements 1, 4 & 5

Programme Two John Psathas: Kartsigar Schumann: String Quartet in F Opus 41 No 2 John Psathas: One Study, One Summary Luis Tinoco: Ends Meet First Movement Egberto Gismonti: Dança Nr. 2 Second Movement Tan Dun: 8 Colours for String Quartet Chen Yi: Sound of the Five Second Movement Eurico Carrapatoso: Suite d’Aquém e d’Além Mar, Movements 1, 4 & 5

Concert details

NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday 8 August, 6pm, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace (Programme 2), Book at Ticketek, ph (06) 759 0021: part of the Taranaki Arts Festival

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday 10 August, 8pm, James Hay Theatre (Programme 2), Book at Ticketek, ph (03) 377 8899; part of the Christchurch Arts Festival

DUNEDIN, Monday 13 August, 8pm, Glenroy Auditorium (Programme 1), Book at Ticketek, ph (03) 477 8597

INVERCARGILL, Tuesday 14 August, 8pm, The Victoria Room, Civic Theatre (Programme 2), Book at TicketDirect, ph (03) 211 1692

NELSON, Thursday 16 August, 8pm, Nelson School of Music (Programme 2), Book at NSOM, ph (03) 548 9477

NAPIER, Saturday 18 August, 8pm, Century Theatre (Programme 1), Book at Century Theatre, ph (06) 835 7781

AUCKLAND, Monday 20 August, 8pm, Auckland Town Hall (Programme 1), Book at Ticketek, ph (09) 307 5000

HAMILTON, Tuesday 21 August, 8pm, Wel Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato (Programme 1), Book at TicketDirect, ph (07) 858 5100 or 0800 383 5200

PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday 23 August, 8pm, Regent on Broadway (Programme 1), Book at TicketDirect, ph (06) 357 9740 of 0800 4TICKET (484 253)

WELLINGTON, Saturday 25 August, 8pm, Wellington Town Hall (Programme 2), Book at Ticketek, ph (03) 384 3840

Ticket prices vary from $35-$50 plus service or booking fees. Contact box office for local details. $15 Student Rush available on the day at all centres.

ENDS