Romantic Pianist Returns To Woo NZ

MEDIA RELEASE: Romantic pianist returns to woo NZ

For immediate release / 20 April 2005 / 374 words

Renowned for his charismatic personality on and off the keys, Australian pianist extraodinaire Piers Lane returns to New Zealand this month and May.

Described as having Œturbo driven fingers' (The Glasgow Herald), Œone of the most infectious laughs around', (The NZ Herald) and playing with Œfiligree charm' (The Times), Piers continues to charm and woo audiences worldwide.

The world's geography and weather conditions are no strangers to Piers, who has performed in over 40 countries, from Equador (where he had to fly between mountains on a military plane and then hop into a jeep to get to the venue!), Chile and Venezuela to Morocco, Uzbekistan and Georgia. In Bombay, Piers had to rehearse with the orchestra at 7am to avoid the extreme Indian heat.

One of Piers's most memorable concert experiences came in Oman, where he was asked to perform for the Sultan. After flying on the Sultan's private jet, Piers was greeted by a fleet of Mercedes and police-escorted to his accommodation. The concert took place at midnight in the palace concert hall, for the Sultan and his guests. As a thank you, Piers was given a number of gifts, among them a red velvet-lined box with gold and diamond cufflinks, gold Montblanc pens and a Rolex.

The reality of life as a globetrotting musician soon set in though, says Piers. "The next day, I played live on BBC radio, and afterwards, caught the tube home - but no bus arrived when I reached my train station, and I ended up walking home in the pouring rain, thinking of luxury limousines and private jets and the injustices of life!"

Piers will perform a selection of Romantic favourites in a nine recital nationwide tour for Chamber Music New Zealand in April and May. This long awaited return visit to New Zealand, supported by the Turnovsky Endowment Trust, will be Piers's third tour for CMNZ, for whom he first toured in 1997.

For more information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz or ph 0800 CONCERT (266 2378).

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

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Media Quotes

"...Lane's playing had the authority of someone who knew exactly what he was doing, and for whom the music was only thing that mattered in his time on stage... Here Lane's dextrous pianism and musical perceptions made sense of a work that is pure competition fare: technically challenging, interpretatively demanding, and audience rewarding..."

Sydney Morning Herald, 2 July 2004

"...complete mastery of the piano, as hands and keys became one. ... A truly exhilarating programme of music delivered with intense passion and emotion..."

Otago Daily Times, 4 June 2004

"Musically it had everything: style, wit, humour, control ... the night belonged to Piers Lane, his four hands and his turbo driven fingers" The Glasgow Herald

"Lane glittered with filigree charm" The Times (UK)

"... breathtaking pianism" The Australian

"Piers Lane must have one of the most infectious laughs around" NZ Herald

"No praise could be high enough for Piers Lane whose playing throughout is of a superb musical intelligence, sensitivity, and scintillating brilliance" Gramophone

About Piers Lane

Piers association with New Zealand goes back to 1990, when the Auckland Philharmonic first asked him over to perform as a soloist. He has since returned many times, has done a national tour for CMNZ, has appeared at the Nelson Festival at the invitation of the New Zealand String Quartet, and also performed at the Rotorua Festival.

Piers was also soloist with the New Zealand Symphony on their first overseas tour to Australia. "During the course of so many visits to New Zealand, I have made many friends. And two of my closest friends from early London days are New Zealanders, with whom I stay when I'm there."

Piers began learning the piano from his mother. "She hates it when I say so, but I got many of my piano lessons called out from the ironing board or wherever!" says Piers. "I began in a group teaching situation, but progressed very quickly, because I had such a background knowledge from hearing my parents speak so often of their students, and from hearing so many lessons given to others."

Piers played his first a radio broadcast at the age of 12. "I remember learning a Liszt Concerto then as well - first played it to a group of nuns invited by my grandmother to hear me!" says Piers.

Piers's international career has taken him to more than 40 countries. Recent highlights include the opening recital of the Sydney International Piano Competition 2004 and a performance of the Grieg Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In the last five years Piers Lane has become a well-known voice on BBC Radio 3, writing and presenting the popular 54-part series The Piano as well as contributing to CD Review and regularly presenting BBC Legends.

Piers was recently a judge at the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2004, where New Zealand pianist John Chen won the top award.

This year he will chair the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in his native city of Brisbane. Other engagements in 2005 include an Australian tour for Musica Viva.

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Piers Lane in recital

Invercargill ­ Tuesday 26 April, Civic Theatre
Dunedin ­ Wednesday 27 April, Glenroy Auditorium
Christchurch ­ Thursday 28 April, The Aurora Centre
Auckland ­ Saturday 30 April, Auckland Town Hall
New Plymouth ­ Monday 2 May, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace
Wellington ­ Tuesday 3 May, Wellington Town Hall
Nelson ­ Wednesday 4 May, Nelson School of Music
Napier ­ Thursday 5 May, Century Theatre
Palmerston North - Saturday 7 May, Regent on Broadway

All concerts start at 8pm

Programme 1 (Invercargill, Dunedin, Auckland, Nelson, Napier & Palmerston
North)

Beethoven Sonata Opus 27 No 2 ŒMoonlight'
Beethoven/Liszt Allegretto from Symphony No 7
Schumann Exercises on a Theme of Beethoven

Interval

Schubert Impromptu in G flat
Beethoven/Liszt A song from An die ferne Geliebte
Schumann Fantasie in C Opus 17

Programme 2 (Christchurch, New Plymouth & Wellington)

Brahms Waltzes Opus 39
Schumann Carnaval

Interval

Chopin Nocturnes Opus 27
Rakhmaninov Variations on a Theme of Chopin Opus 22

More information from:

Chamber Music New Zealand: http://chambermusic.co.nz/artists/83.php

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