October 2008

Summer Music Feast

Sunshine, fine wine, heritage venues and top national and international musicians - Nelson’s biennial Adam Chamber Music Festival is an irresistible mix.

The Festival is now in its tenth season and the early response to tickets, both nationally and internationally, indicates the Artistic Directors, Helene Pohl and Gillian Ansell from the New Zealand String Quartet, have excelled themselves in the array of talent and the musical selection.

The Festival will be opened on January 23 by the world-famous Pražák String Quartet from the Czech Republic, flying direct to New Zealand from Geneva to perform with Ensemble-in-Residence, the NZ String Quartet.

Festival Manager Roger Lloyd says the line up is impressive: “Other international stars include London-based Australian pianist, Piers Lane, with solo recitals and chamber works; Swedish mezzo-soprano, Catrin Johnnson comes to the festival for the first time and from Berkley, California, the acclaimed guitarist David Tanenbaum will be making his New Zealand debut.”

There will be a total of 42 events over 16 days, performed in the Nelson Cathedral, the School of Music, and St John’s Church, the Chanel Arts Centre, Motueka, and the Church of the Sacred Heart, Takaka. There are two Blenheim events, at the Brancott Winery and the Church of the Nativity, and a special party at Woollaston Estates to celebrate Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday and the Festival’s tenth anniversary.

Highlights include an eight-handed piano concert with Michael Houstoun, Diedre Irons, Richard Mapp and Emma Sayers; the fast and furious BonaNZa trombone quartet, and Taonga Puoro with Richard Nunns.

“This year’s Adam Festival programme truly caters for all tastes - from Bach Cantatas to Dave Dobbyn’s Slice of Heaven,” Lloyd said. “We have children’s shows, master classes and even a guest appearance from the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.”

Tickets can be purchased from Everyman Records, Nelson and, for the Blenheim concerts, from the Marlborough Centre. Up-dated information is available on the Adam Chamber Music Festival’s website at www.music.org.nz

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