‘Flawless’ Germans make NZ debut

MEDIA RELEASE:
‘Flawless’ Germans make NZ debut

For immediate release / 29 August 2005 / 316 words

Musicians whose “flawless” performances “astound the eye and ear” (The Pittsburgh Post) make their New Zealand debut in September. Germany’s Petersen Quartet perform three concerts - in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's 2005 Celebrity Season.

The Petersen Quartet will play works ranging from the 18th century to the present day. All three concerts will feature Peter Sculthorpe's String Quartet No 9 (1975), a composition that juxtaposes themes of man and nature, with inspiration derived from Australian aboriginal sources. In 1998, Sculthorpe was elected one of Australia's 100 Living National Treasures, and was identified as one of Australia's 45 Icons the following year.

In Wellington and Christchurch, the group will play one of the most famous string quartets in the world, Franz Schubert’s Death and the Maiden. The music provided inspiration for Roman Polanski’s 1994 thriller of the same name, starring Ben Kingsley and Sigourney Weaver. These concerts will also include music by 20th century Russian composer Sergey Prokofiev

In Auckland, the quartet will also perform music by Mozart, Schumann, and 20th century Czech composer Ervin Schulhoff.

The Petersen Quartet are passionate about bringing new life to music. “We try to perform each work with the freshness of a premiere, and consider our performance a success if appreciated by chamber music aficionados and newcomers alike”, says violinist, Daniel Bell. “Musically we try to perform with freshness and spontaneity!”

They are all looking forward to visiting New Zealand for the first time. “We imagine New Zealand to be a very beautiful country with friendly relaxed people”, says Daniel. “Our career involves such a lot of travelling so we try to keep enjoying that aspect. No matter how many concerts we give there always seem to be un-visited places to discover, such as New Zealand!”

Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Sun Microsystems, the Goethe-Institut and Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

PETERSEN QUARTET IN CONCERT

AUCKLAND
Friday 9 September, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (09) 307 5000

Performing in Auckland:
Mozart String Quartet in G K387
Sculthorpe String Quartet No 9 (1975)
Schulhoff 5 pieces for String Quartet
Schumann String Quartet in A minor Opus 41 No 1

WELLINGTON
Saturday 10 September, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (04) 384 3840

CHRISTCHURCH
Monday 12 September, James Hay Theatre, 8pm
Book at Ticketek, ph (03) 377 8899

Performing in Wellington and Christchurch:
Prokofiev String Quartet No 2 in F Opus 92
Sculthorpe String Quartet No 9 (1975)
Schubert String Quartet in D minor D810 Death and the Maiden

ABOUT PETERSEN QUARTET

Founded in 1979, the Petersen Quartet have become the epitome of high-calibre sound and fine musicianship throughout Europe and North America and have been described as performers who leave “little to be desired” (BBC Music Magazine).

Included in their New Zealand performances are works by Mozart, Prokofiev, Schubert, Sculthorpe, Schulhoff and Schumann.

A highlight of their visit will be their performance of String Quartet No 9 (1975) by Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe. The piece was derived from Australian aboriginal sources, juxtaposing and combining the theme of man and nature.

The Petersen Quartet will perform also Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, one of the best known string quartets, with its hauntingly beautiful slow movement and dark, dramatic beginning and ending. Schubert wrote this dramatic work after being inspired by a poem of the same name by Matthias Claudius. The piece contrasts the maiden’s fear of death with death’s promise of a peaceful slumber. Schubert was very ill at the time of composing the piece and the poem took on a new significance.

For more information on the Petersen Quartet: http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/artists/86.php

For more information on Roman Polanski’s ‘Death and the Maiden’: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109579/

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