Italian Ensemble I Musici Opens Chamber Music NZ Season

Acclaimed Italian Ensemble I Musici Opens Chamber Music New Zealand Season

“In every style [I Musici] bring the essential impulse of life… The result is playing of verve, stylistic purity and impeccable artistry." The New York Times

Acclaimed Italian chamber ensemble I Musici tours New Zealand for the first time in February and March 2012 as the opening concert of Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2012 season.

Famed for its 1955 recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons which led to the work becoming one of the most famous compositions of the classical music repertoire, I Musici celebrates its 60th anniversary with a Celebration World Tour taking in China, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Australia, Europe – and New Zealand.

The New Zealand tour begins in Wellington on Tuesday 28 February with a concert as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival, before the 12-member ensemble heads to Palmerston North, Napier, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Auckland, Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson.

“We were absolutely thrilled to secure I Musici as our opening artists for the 2012 season and I can’t wait to experience this iconic group,” says Chamber Music New Zealand chief executive Euan Murdoch.

Formed in Rome in 1952, I Musici is one of the longest-running active chamber music ensembles in the world and is well known for its interpretations of baroque works particularly those of Antonio Vivaldi and Tomaso Albinoni.

Their 1955 recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was only the second recording made of the work and the ensemble is widely credited with the work’s enduring popularity – it has featured in films including Spy Games, A View To Kill and What Lies Beneath, and is often heard in advertising and at weddings. I Musici went on to record Four Seasons another five times with different soloists racking up more than 25 million album sales across the different recordings.

I Musici’s programme for the Chamber Music New Zealand tour ‘Serenata Italiana’, takes audiences on a journey of the Italian serenade, with music by Rossini, Respighi, and film composer Nino Rota (of The Godfather fame).

I Musici performs in 10 centres nationwide from 28 February to 11 March. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.chambermusic.co.nz.

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

CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND 2012 ‘KALEIDOSCOPES’ SEASON: I MUSICI

Programme

• Rossini | Sonata a quattro No 1 in G
• Rossini | Une Larme: Theme and variations for cello and strings
• Donizetti | Allegro in C for strings
• Paganini | Il Carnevale di Venezia, theme and variations for violin and strings
• Bossi | 3 Intermezzi Goldoniani, Opus 127
• Respighi | Aria for strings
• Rota | Concerto for strings (written for I Musici)
• Bacalov | Concerto Grosso for I Musici’s 60th Anniversary

• WELLINGTON: Michael Fowler Centre |Tuesday 28 February 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz Part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival
• PALMERSTON NORTH: Regent Theatre | Wednesday 29 February 7.30pm| Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.conz
• NAPIER: Municipal Theatre | Thursday 1 March 8pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz
• NEW PLYMOUTH: Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace |Saturday 3 March 7.30pm| Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.conz
• HAMILTON: Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato | Sunday 4 March 5pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz
• AUCKLAND: Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE | Monday 5 March 8pm | Book at 0800 BUY TICKETS (289 842) www.buytickets.co.nz
• INVERCARGILL: Civic Theatre | Wednesday 7 March 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.conz
• DUNEDIN: Regent Theatre | Thursday 8 March 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.conz
• CHRISTCHURCH: Aurora Centre, Burnside High School | Friday 9 March 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz
• NELSON: Nelson School of Music | Sunday 11 March 2pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.conz

ENDS