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Sunday Concerts 2006 – Artists

Sometimes we need to change the musicians or programme (e.g. illness) and may not be able to give advance notice.

All concerts start at 3 pm

Talisker Trio and Rachael Thompson

23 April

If technical excellence, eclectic programming, wit, humour and a touch of pathos are elements you enjoy in a concert, join the Talisker Trio and pianist Rachael Thompson as they take a musical journey – from Sonata to Sinatra and many points in between.

Cheryl Hollinger, trumpet, Heather Anderson, horn, and Peter Maunder, trombone, make up the Talisker Trio. All are principal players in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Each brings a wealth of musical experience together with a passion for their instrument that results in brass playing of the highest quality. In this concert they will be joined by pianist Rachael Thompson, who has a busy career as a solo, duo and collaborative pianist.

Aroha String Quartet and violist Vyvyan Yendoll

14 May

Four good friends, all originally from China, and now professional performers resident in New Zealand, make up the Aroha String Quartet. These highly experienced musicians – violinists Haihong Liu, and Beiyi Xue, violist Zhongxian Jin and cellist Jiaxin Cheng – have combined their talents and passion to create this very welcome addition to the New Zealand music scene.

Their Sunday Concert 2006 programme includes well-loved quintets by Mozart and Dvorak, to be performed with Vyvyan Yendoll. Principal Viola of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years, he is well known to Wellington audiences from frequent performances as a chamber musician and soloist.

New Zealand String Quartet

28 May

Since its formation in 1987 the New Zealand String Quartet’s dynamic style and vivid interpretations have won the hearts of audiences on four continents. An ever expanding international schedule is filled with tours to north America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Recent highlights for violinists Helene Pohl and Douglas Beilman, violist Gillian Ansell and cellist Rolf Gjelsten have been their New York debut at the Frick Collection, the release of their CD of Szekely and Dvorak Op 51 String Quartets on the Atoll Label in 2003, and their second concert at the Wigmore Hall in London in 2005.

Feng Ning (violin) and Michael Houstoun (piano)

Michael Hill Violin Competition Winner

18 June

Now a well established event on the international music competition circuit, the Michael Hill Violin Competition is run biennially by the Auckland Philharmonia. Sunday Concerts 2006 offers you the opportunity to hear the winner of the 2005 competition in recital with Michael Houstoun.

Feng Ning, born in China in 1981, began his music education in Chengdu and at the Sichuan Conservatoire of Music before moving to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music. He has been a finalist and prizewinner in many prestigious international competitions and has performed recitals and as a soloist in China, Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Germany and the USA.

Michael Houstoun (piano)

23 July

Michael Houstoun’s return to the recital stage after a four-year absence was eagerly awaited by his many fans – who have not been disappointed by his recent performances! Reviewers have described them as ‘spellbinding’, ‘heartfelt’, ‘divine’ and ‘playing that completely captures the attention of a totally involved audience’.

Widely regarded as this country’s finest pianist Michael has performed regularly with orchestras, as a recitalist and as a chamber music partner. His many career highlights include performing Beethoven’s 32 sonatas, first presented by Wellington Chamber Music in 1993 and later recorded for Trust Records.

Wendy Dawn Thompson (mezzo soprano) Lindy Tennant-Brown (piano)

13 August

Wendy Dawn Thompson Lindy Tennant-Brown

Wendy Dawn Thompson, mezzo soprano, and Lindy Tennant-Brown, piano, met as students at Victoria University’s School of music. Their duo partnership was cemented through many recitals during further study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, followed by their success in a number of singing competitions.

Wendy Dawn Thompson’s New Zealand fans were delighted when she was chosen as a finalist in the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2005 contest. Other competition successes include winning the Kathleen Ferrier Award and the Royal Overseas League Music Competition in the UK in 2003. Lindy Tennant-Brown was invited to become an inaugural Wigmore Young Artist in 2003, in recognition of her pre-eminence among accompanists of her generation.

Robert Orr (oboe) and Richard Mapp (piano)

3 September

Robert Orr Richard Mapp

Opportunities to hear the magical sound of the oboe in recital are rare. This concert offers an afternoon of musical grace, beauty and lyricism with a programme featuring works for oboe and piano.

Robert Orr is Principal Oboe with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and an established recital artist and soloist, having performed for New Zealand festivals and toured for Chamber Music New Zealand.

Pianist Richard Mapp balances a busy teaching schedule at the Massey University Conservatorium of Music with solo performances, chamber music, and recording engagements.

Munro-Smith-Berlin Trio (piano, violin, cello)

15 October

Much-loved violinist Wilma Smith makes a welcome return to Wellington in this concert with Australian colleagues Ian Munroe, piano and David Berlin, cello. Founding member and first violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet and later Concert Master of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Wilma was appointed Co-concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2003.

Ian Munroe is one of Australia’s most acclaimed international pianists and shines in solo, duo and ensemble performances. David Berlin is Principal Cello of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly in chamber music groups. The recent collaboration of these three highly accomplished musicians promises to provide an excellent Sunday Concert.

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