Chamber Music New Zealand reveals 2006 artists

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Chamber Music New Zealand reveals 2006 artists

Embargoed till 29 September 2005 / 588 words

Today, Chamber Music New Zealand announced the artists in its 2006 Celebrity Season. The season features some of the world¹s best chamber music performers, both established and rising stars.

Loved by audiences last time they visited in 2004, Israel¹s Jerusalem Quartet return to New Zealand to open Chamber Music New Zealand¹s 2006 Celebrity Season in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in April. The Jerusalem Quartet attract a vast amount of international acclaim wherever they go and have been dubbed "chamber music superstars" amongst younger string quartets.

Kazakhstan-born guitarist Slava Grigoryan has become known as the "wizard" of the classical guitar. Slava¹s debut classical album was awarded Best Classical Album at the 2002 ARIA Awards, and his recordings with The Australian Guitar Quartet won the 2003 Best Classical Album ARIA. His concerts in March 2006 open the Celebrity Season in six centres. This will be Slava¹s first tour for CMNZ.

Comprising four of Australia¹s finest string players, the Goldner String Quartet return to New Zealand in April and May next year. All members of the quartet have occupied Principal positions in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra. They have also enjoyed collaborations with many international artists including violist Brett Dean and guitarist Slava Grigoryan.

Without any doubt, John Chen is New Zealand¹s finest young concert pianist. In 2004, as an 18 year old, John became the youngest winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition. He was also the first competitor from Australia or New Zealand to win the competition since it began in 1977. John made his CMNZ touring debut with violinist Julia McCarthy in 2005 and also performed at the official 40th birthday celebrations of the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest. He will perform his first solo tour for Chamber Music New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin in June 2006.

The bassoon steps into the limelight with local ensemble Divertissement next year. Taking their name from a work by French composer Jean Francaix, Divertissement will perform rarely heard works for bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass. The group comprises six members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra ­ proof that chamber music is indeed the music of friends!

Canadian ensemble the St Lawrence String Quartet last toured for Chamber Music New Zealand in 2003 and return in 2006. The group have been dubbed the "hottest of the younger string quartets" (The Boston Globe) and have a reputation for imaginative, spontaneous music-making that the Washington Post calls "emotionally high charged but never out of control."

Featuring three young brothers from Vienna, the Eggner Trio will visit New Zealand for the first time in 2006. The trio won the prestigious 4th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition in 2003 and have achieved immense rapport and understanding through their years of playing together.

Esteemed soloists Julian Rachlin and Itamar Golan visit New Zealand for the first time in 2006 to wrap-up the 2006 Celebrity Season in November with concerts in Auckland and Wellington. Julian Rachlan (violin) gained international acclaim in 1988 when he won the "Young Musician of the Year" Award at the Eurovision Competition in Amsterdam and his performances have been described as "super-fine and platinum tipped" (The Times). Itamar Golan (piano) leads a distinguished career as a chamber music performer, appearing with soloists and ensembles throughout the world.

For more information and to request a 2006 brochure, please contact Chamber Music New Zealand, ph 0800 CONCERT (266 2378) or log onto www.chambermusic.co.nz.

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

Public ticket sales for these events are available from 13 February 2006.

Members of the public can only secure seats before this date by buying a CMNZ subscription pass. Feel free to get in touch if you'd like information on CMNZ's subscription packages / need further information / images on any of 2006's artists.

ENDS

About Chamber Music New Zealand

Chamber Music New Zealand presents local and international chamber music ensembles throughout New Zealand. Chamber Music New Zealand¹s Celebrity Season brings the world's finest chamber music ensembles to nine centres around the country. Feature artists vary in nationality and style. All share a high reputation for virtuosity and vitality.

http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/artists

The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2005, fosters the musical stars and composers of the future. The contest the longest running youth music competition in New Zealand and is the only national chamber music competition for young musicians and composers in the country. The National Final will also feature a performance of the winning Original Composition.

http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/music-contest

The Associate Societies programme presents the top local musicians to smaller centres throughout New Zealand.

http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/artists

ENDS

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EMBARGOED TILL 29 SEPTEMBER: CALENDAR OF EVENTS TO FOLLOW
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INFORMATION EMBARGOED TILL 30 SEPTEMBER 2005
New Zealand 2006 Calendar of Events

SLAVA GRIGORYAN (Australia)
March

Kazakhstan-born guitarist Slava Grigoryan migrated with his family to Australia in 1981 and has since become known as the "wizard" of the classical guitar. Slava¹s debut classical album was awarded Best Classical Album at the 2002 ARIA Awards, and his recordings with The Australian Guitar Quartet won the 2003 Best Classical Album ARIA. This will be Slava¹s first tour for Chamber Music New Zealand and a rare opportunity to hear the baritone guitar.

Invercargill ­ Friday 3 March, Centrestage, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Dunedin ­ Tuesday 7 March, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Nelson ­ Wednesday 8 March, Nelson School of Music, 8pm. Book at Nelson School of Music.
Napier ­ Thursday 9 March, Century Theatre, 8pm. Book at Century Theatre.
Palmerston North ­ Friday 10 March, Regent on Broadway, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
New Plymouth ­ Saturday 11 March, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.

JERUSALEM QUARTET (Israel)
April

Known for their mature interpretation of the great works and flawless technique, the Jerusalem Quartet return to New Zealand to open Chamber Music New Zealand¹s 2006 Celebrity Season in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. One of the most dynamic and exciting young quartets currently performing, the Jerusalem Quartet attract a vast amount of international acclaim wherever they go. The young quartet have been dubbed the "chamber music superstars" of the new generation of young string quartets.

Auckland ­ Saturday 1 April, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Christchurch ­ Monday 3 April, James Hay Theatre, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Wellington - Tuesday 4 April, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.

GOLDNER STRING QUARTET (Australia)
April / May

Comprising four of Australia¹s finest string players, the Goldner String Quartet return to New Zealand in 2006. All members of the quartet have occupied Principal positions in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra. They have also enjoyed collaborations with many international artists including violist Brett Dean and guitarist Slava Grigoryan. The Goldner String Quartet are currently resident at the University of New South Wales. The quartet last toured NZ in 1999.

Palmerston North ­ Wednesday 26 April, Regent on Broadway, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Napier ­ Thursday 27 April, Century Theatre, 8pm. Book at Century Theatre.
New Plymouth Friday 28 April, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Wellington ­ Saturday 29 April, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Nelson ­ Monday 1 May, Nelson School of Music, 8pm. Book at Nelson School of Music.
Christchurch ­ Tuesday 2 May, Town Hall Auditoruim, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Dunedin ­ Thursday 4 May, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Invercargill ­ Friday 5 May, Centrestage, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Auckland - Saturday 6 May, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.

DIVERTISSEMENT (NZ)
May / June

Taking their name from a work by French composer Jean Francaix, Divertissement will perform rarely heard works for bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass. The group comprises six members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra ­ proof that chamber music is indeed the music of friends!

Invercargill ­ Monday 29 May, Centrestage, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Dunedin ­ Tuesday 30 May, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
New Plymouth ­ Monday 12 June, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Palmerston North ­ Tuesday 13 June, Regent on Broadway, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Napier ­ Wednesday 14 June, Century Theatre, 8pm. Book at Century Theatre.
Christchurch ­ Thursday 15 June, James Hay Theatre, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Nelson ­ Saturday 17 June, Nelson School of Music, 8pm. Book at Nelson School of Music.
Auckland ­ Saturday 24 June, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Wellington ­ Monday 26 June, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.

JOHN CHEN (New Zealand)
June

Without any doubt, John Chen is New Zealand¹s finest young concert pianist. In 2004, as an 18 year old, John became the youngest winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition. He was also the first competitor from Australia or New Zealand to win the competition since it began in 1977.

Dunedin - Tuesday 6 June, Marama Hall, University of Otago
Wellington - Sunday 11 June, Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall
Auckland - Tuesday 13 June, Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

ST LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET (Canada)
August / September

The St Lawrence String Quartet last toured for Chamber Music New Zealand in 2003 and return in 2006. The quartet have established themselves among the world-class chamber ensembles of their generation and continue to expand the wonders of chamber music to new listeners. The group have a reputation for imaginative, spontaneous music-making that the Washington Post calls "emotionally high charged but never out of control."

Dunedin ­ Monday 28 August, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Nelson - Tuesday 29 August, Nelson School of Music, 8pm. Book at Nelson School of Music.
Wellington ­ Wednesday 30 August, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Palmerston North ­ Thursday 31 August, Regent on Broadway, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
New Plymouth ­ Saturday 2 September, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Napier ­ Monday 4 September, Century Theatre, 8pm. Book at Century Theatre.
Christchurch ­ Tuesday 5 September, Town Hall Auditorium, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Auckland ­ Wednesday 6 September, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm.

EGGNER TRIO (Austria)
October

The Eggner Trio from Vienna will visit New Zealand for the first time in 2006. These three young brothers won the prestigious 4th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition in 2003 and have achieved immense rapport and understanding through their years of playing together.

Nelson - Monday 9 October, Nelson School of Music, 8pm. Book at Nelson School of Music.
Invercargill - Tuesday10 October, Centrestage, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Dunedin - Wednesday 11 October, Glenroy Auditorium, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.*
*Presented as part of the Otago Festival of the Arts
Auckland - Thursday 12 October, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
New Plymouth - Saturday 14 October, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Christchurch - Monday16 October, James Hay Theatre, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Napier - Tuesday 17 October, Century Theatre, 8pm. Book at Century Theatre.
Palmerston North - Wednesday18 October, Regent on Broadway, 8pm. Book at TicketDirect.
Wellington - Thursday 19 October, Wellington Town Hall. Book at Ticketek.

JULIAN RACHLIN and ITAMAR GOLAN
November

Esteemed soloists Julian Rachlin and Itamar Golan visit New Zealand for the first time in 2006. Julian Rachlan gained international acclaim in 1988 when he won the "Young Musician of the Year" Award at the Eurovision Competition in Amsterdam. He has since established himself as one of the most charismatic and exciting violinists of his generation. Itamar leads a distinguished career as a chamber music performer, appearing with soloists and ensembles throughout the world.

Auckland ­ Tuesday 21 November, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.
Wellington ­ Wednesday 22 November, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.

NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST
National Final
August

The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest fosters the musical stars of the future. It is the longest running youth music competition in New Zealand and is the only national chamber music competition for young musicians and composers in the country. The National Final will also feature a performance of the winning Original Composition.

Wellington ­ Saturday 5 August, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm. Book at Ticketek.

--

For more information and to request a 2006 brochure, please contact Chamber Music New Zealand, ph 0800 CONCERT (266 2378) or log onto www.chambermusic.co.nz.

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

About Chamber Music New Zealand

Chamber Music New Zealand presents local and international chamber music ensembles throughout New Zealand. Its annual Celebrity Season showcases premier international artists, while the Associate Societies programme focuses on New Zealand performers. The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest fosters the musical stars and composers of the future.

ENDS

BE SEDUCED: Flight (NZ)

Be seduced by magical music of flute and harp, from two of the NZSO's star players. Flight's NZ tour: 17 Sept - 3 Oct: http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/artists/48.php

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