Violin Contest Winner Bella Hristova To Tour NZ

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

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