Enso String Quartet and German pianist Michael Endres tour

Grammy nominated Enso String Quartet and German pianist Michael Endres tour 10 New Zealand centres

Playing of jaw-dropping prowess revealing masterpieces of the 20th century quartet literature … seek out this group – they are clearly bound for greatness.” – MusicWeb International

Exciting young American ensemble Enso String Quartet joins outstanding German pianist Michael Endres for a 10-centre New Zealand tour in October and November as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2012 ‘Kaleidoscopes’ season.

The Enso String Quartet and Michael Endres concert tour opens in Christchurch on Tuesday 23 October, before touring to Wellington, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Auckland, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson, Dunedin and Invercargill. In Wellington on Wednesday 24 October, the Enso String Quartet will join with pupils of Kimi Ora school for a special mixed-ability performance led by community musician Julian Raphael.

With a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Chamber Music Performance for their recording of the Ginastera quartets, the Enso String Quartet, including Christchurch-born cellist Richard Belcher, has quickly made its mark on the international chamber music scene.

Christchurch-based pianist Michael Endres joins the ensemble on the tour. Recently appointed Head of Piano Studies at The University of Canterbury, Michael is a pianist of international standing with an extensive and prizewinning discography.

The Enso String Quartet is equally at home performing many styles, and is committed to the classics of the string quartet repertoire as well as being strong advocates for new music. The ensemble members hold degrees from Yale University, The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, Guildhall School of Music, and The University of Canterbury, and in 2009 they were the recipients of a Chamber Music America Commissioning Grant with composer Kurt Stallmann.

A native of Christchurch, cellist Richard Belcher has been hailed for his spellbinding warmth and lyricism and his melting musicality. As a founding member of the Enso String Quartet he has claimed victories at 2003 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, 2004 Banff International String Quartet Competition, and Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Also featuring in the quartet is Maureen Nelson on violin, John Marcus on violin and Stephanie Fong on viola (filling in for Melissa Reardon who is on maternity leave).

The programme for all 10 concerts features a specially commission work for the quartet by one of New Zealand’s most distinguished composers, Dame Gillian Whitehead. No stars, not even clouds ... was written in memory of Gillian’s friend, the write and oral historian Juanita Ketchel and draws on “the Otago accent of the korimako or bellbirds, that seem to sing vociferously every time I sit down to write”.

The programme in Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Nelson and Dunedin also includes Argentinian composer Ginastera’s second string quartets and Boccherini’s delicate Quartet in G minor with Michael Endres joining the quartet for Dvořák’s Piano Quintet.

Haydn’s sense of fun prevails in his Quartet in C which is part of the programme in Auckland, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Invercargill. This is complemented by Shostakovich’s Quintet, described by a Moscow newspaper critic as “a portrait of our age... the rich-toned, perfect voice of the present”.

The Enso String Quartet and Michael Endres perform in 10 New Zealand centres from Tuesday 23 October to Wednesday 7 November. For more information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz

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

CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND 2012 ‘KALEIDOSCOPES’ SEASON: ENSO STRING QUARTET WITH MICHAEL ENDRES

Programme One
Boccherini | String Quartet in G minor Opus 32 No 5
Ginastera | String Quartet No 1 Opus 20
Gillian Whitehead | No stars, not even clouds...
Dvořák | Piano Quintet in A Opus 81

Programme Two
Haydn | Quartet in C Opus 20 No 2
Debussy | String Quartet in G minor
Gillian Whitehead | No stars, not even clouds...
Shostakovich | Piano Quintet in G minor Opus 57

CHRISTCHURCH: Aurora Centre for Performing Arts | Tuesday 23 October 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme Two

WELLINGTON: Wellington Town Hall | Thursday 25 October 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme One

NEW PLYMOUTH: Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace | Friday 26 October 7.30pm | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz | Programme Two

HAMILTON: Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts | Sunday 28 October 5.00pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme One

AUCKLAND: Auckland Town Hall | Monday 29 October 8.00pm | Book at THE EDGE 0800 BUY TICKETS (289 842) www.buytickets.co.nz | Programme Two

NAPIER: Napier Municipal Theatre | Wednesday 31 October 8.00pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme One

PALMERSTON NORTH: The Speirs Centre | Thursday 1 November 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme Two

NELSON: Nelson School of Music | Saturday 3 November 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme One

DUNEDIN: Regent Theatre | Monday 5 November 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme One

INVERCARGILL: Civic Theatre | Wednesday 7 November 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme Two

ENDS

© Scoop Media