New Zealand’s Supreme Woodwind Talent Tours 10 Centres

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New Zealand’s Supreme Woodwind Talent Tours 10 Centres in September

“The players immediately showed that wonderful ability to create a beautifully sound when needed, but also a distinctive timbre...” The Tribune

New Zealand’s finest woodwind players combine to form the creamy and colourful sounds of Zephyr – touring to 10 New Zealand centres in September and October as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2012 ‘Kaleidoscopes’ season
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The tour by Zephyr begins on Sunday 9 September in Palmerston North, before heading to Napier, Wellington, New Plymouth, Auckland, Hamilton, Invercargill, Nelson, Christchurch, and ending in Dunedin as part of the Otago Festival of the Arts.

Comprising principal players from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Zephyr has been described as rivalling world-famous chamber ensembles.

The members are all experienced chamber musicians and perform with groups including Flight and contemporary ensemble Stroma.

A world premiere from acclaimed New Zealand composer Gareth Farr features for five of the 10 concerts – in Napier, Wellington, Hamilton, Nelson and Dunedin.

It is Gareth’s first work for wind ensemble. Entitled Mad Little Machine, it is Gareth at his most exuberant and is inspired by rhythms. “I love rhythms – I’m such a percussion nerd. When I’m walking, I’ll tap different rhythms with my footsteps and mad little things like that.

“The beat changes all over the place, so it’s like some crazy little machine that gets stuck in a rhythmic groove and then trips over itself, and zooms off in a completely different direction.”

The two programmes are filled with humour, melancholy, energy, melody and beautiful lyricism. Gallic wit and elegance characterise Françaix’s Quintet for Woodwinds, while Ligeti described his Six Bagatelles as “Bartók, with a little Stravinsky”.

“From the light-hearted to the serious, the programme showcases the wind quintet from every perspective, and demonstrates the lyricism and athletic strengths of this versatile ensemble,” says ensemble flautist Bridget Douglas.

Joining Bridget in the ensemble is Ed Allen on horn, Robert Weeks on bassoon, Robert Orr on oboe and Philip Green on clarinet.

Zephyr performs in 10 centres nationwide from 9 September to 7 October. For more information and booking details, visit www.chambermusic.co.nz

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

CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND 2012 ‘KALEIDOSCOPES’ SEASON: ZEPHYR
Programme One
Francaix: Quintet for Woodwinds
Ross Harris: Fanfares for Solo Horn
Ken Wilson: Wind Quintet
Hindemith: Kleine Kammermusik Opus 24
John Harbison: Wind Quintet
Ibert: Three Short Pieces for Quintet

Programme Two:
Elliot Carter: Woodwind Quartet
Gareth Farr: Mad Little Machine (CMNZ commission)
Nielsen: Quintet
Milhaud: La Cheminee du roi rene ( King Rene’s Fireplace)
Ross Edwards: Three Incantations for Wind Quartet
Ligeti: Six Bagatelles

PALMERSTON NORTH: The Speirs Centre | Sunday 9 September 5.00pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme One
NAPIER: Napier Municipal Theatre| Tuesday 18 September 7.00pm| Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme Two
WELLINGTON: Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall| Sunday 23 September 5.00pm| Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme Two
NEW PLYMOUTH: Theatre Royal TSB Showplace| Monday 24 September 7.30pm| Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz | Programme One
AUCKLAND: Auckland Town Hall| Saturday 29 September 7.00pm| Book at THE EDGE 0800 289 842 www.the-edge.co.nz | Programme One
HAMILTON: Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts| Sunday 30 September 5.00pm| Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme Two
INVERCARGILL: Civic Theatre| Tuesday 2 October 7.30pm| Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme One
NELSON: Nelson School of Music| Thursday 4 October 7.30pm| Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme Two
CHRISTCHURCH: Middleton Grange Performing Arts Centre| Friday 5 October 7.30pm| Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme One
DUNEDIN: Otago Girls’ High School | 7 October 7.30pm| Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKETS (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme Two | Part of Otago Festival of the Arts

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