9 May 2008
International Violin Contest Winner Bella Hristova To Tour NZ
"Bella Hristova – this is a name that all violin players and followers will soon know by heart" – Rod Biss, NZ Listener
Last year Bulgarian violinist Bella Hristova delighted audiences and judges with her winning performance at the 2007
Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
In May and June this year Bella, together with iconic New Zealand pianists Michael Houstoun and Diedre Irons, performs a
recital series throughout New Zealand in May and June as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's 2008 season.
CMNZ chief executive Euan Murdoch says he is delighted to be bringing Bella to 14 centres throughout the country. "This
is a wonderful opportunity for audiences to hear this outstanding performer with one of New Zealand's two very finest
collaborative pianists."
Bella Hristova will perform with Michael Houstoun in Blenheim, Nelson, Motueka, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Rotorua,
Whakatane, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Waikanae and Lower Hutt and with Diedre Irons in Wanganui, Wellington and Auckland.
Born in Bulgaria, Bella began playing violin at age six and, just a few months after first picking up the instrument,
she played live on television. By the age of 11 she was studying under Joseph Radionvo in Sofia, before moving to the
United States at 13 to study at the Meadowmount School of Music in New York State.
Bella featured in a 2006 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and has performed throughout the United States, winning numerous
awards along the way and in 2007 she traveled to New Zealand and was awarded first prize in the 2007 Michael Hill
International Violin Competition.
"Her playing gave me goosebumps and made me cry" – Pamela Frank (2007 Michael Hill International Violin Competition jury
member)
Bella performs a varied programme in New Zealand including Bartok's Sonata for Solo Violin and Beethoven's Sonata in A
major 'Kreutzer' Opus 47, and in Motueka and Auckland she performs Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Piano and a selection
from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.
Bella Hristova performs throughout New Zealand during May and June. For bookings and further information visit
www.chambermusic.co.nz
Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand and Bella Hristova is presented in
Auckland in conjunction with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
ENDS
Bella Hristova & Michael Houstoun
BLENHEIM: Friday 30 May 6pm | Montana Brancott Winery
NELSON: Saturday 31 May 8pm | Nelson School of Music
MOTUEKA: Sunday 1 June 7.30pm | Chanel Arts Centre, Motueka
NEW PLYMOUTH: Thursday 5 June 8pm | Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace
HAMILTON: Saturday 7 June 8pm | WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato
ROTORUA: Sunday 8 June 2pm | Rotorua Convention Centre
WHAKATANE: Monday 9 June 7.30pm | Church of St George and St John
GISBORNE: Wednesday 11 June 7.30pm | Lawson Field Theatre
NAPIER: Friday 13 June 8pm | Century Theatre
WAIKANAE: Sunday 15 June 2.30pm | Memorial Hall
LOWER HUTT: Monday 16 June 8pm | Little Theatre
Bella Hristova & Diedre Irons
WANGANUI: Saturday 21 June 7.30pm | Concert Chamber Music
WELLINGTON: Sunday 22 June 3pm | Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall
AUCKLAND: Monday 23 June 6.30pm | Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
Programme 1: All centres except Motueka, Waikanae and Auckland
BACH Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in E, BWV 1016
BARTÓK Sonata for Solo Violin
BRAHMS, trans JOACHIM Selected Hungarian Dances
BEETHOVEN Sonata in A major 'Kreutzer' Opus 47
Programme 2: Motueka and Auckland
TARTINI Sonata in G minor 'Devil's Trill'
ROSS HARRIS Fanitullen
RAVEL Sonata for Violin and Piano
CORIGLIANO Sonata for Violin and Piano
GERSHWIN Selections from Porgy and Bess
Programme 3: Waikanae
TARTINI Sonata in G minor 'Devil's Trill'
BARTÓK Sonata for Solo Violin
BRAHMS, trans JOACHIM Selected Hungarian Dances
BEETHOVEN Sonata in A major 'Kreutzer' Opus 47
ENDS