NZ String Quartet Takes Chamber Music Into Intimate Settings

MEDIA RELEASE

NZ String Quartet Salon Series Takes Chamber Music Into Intimate Settings

Featherston Concert: Sunday 31 August
Wellington Concerts: Fri 19 & Sat 21 September

The New Zealand String Quartet is harking back to the times of musical soirees for its new Salon Series of concerts performed throughout New Zealand in August and September.

The New Zealand String Quartet Salon Series is specially designed for people who are new to chamber music, as well as long-time chamber music lovers who can experience favourite pieces.

The New Zealand String Quartet performs two concerts in Wellington at the Hunter Council Chamber on Friday 19 September (Salon Series Two) and at the Prefab Cafe on Sunday 21 September (Salon Series One). Salon Series Two is also being performed in a special house concert in Featherston on Sunday 31 August.

Salon Series One provides an introduction for newcomers to chamber music featuring a range of timeless works and a stunning full multi-movement from Schubert. From J.S. Bach’s lyrical Air from Suite No 3, to Shostakovich’s playful Polka, there also gives chamber music fans a chance to hear some of their favourite movements as stand-alone pieces and explore the ideas behind the composers’ works.

Salon Series Two caters for the more experienced chamber music audience and includes Haydn’s fiery Gypsy Quartet and Grieg’s String Quartet in G minor. These two longer movements are balanced by shorter complete works, including Zhou Long’s Song of the Ch’in and Wolf’s Italian Serenade. Each member of the quartet will also perform a solo movement from a Bach suite, providing the opportunity to highlight the personality of the individual instruments.

The New Zealand String Quartet performs Salon Series Two at 107 Fitzherbert St, Featherston on Sunday 31 August at 3pm and at Hunter Council Chamber, Wellington on Friday 19 September at 7pm and Salon Series One at Prefab Cafe, Wellington on Sunday 21 September at 3pm. Tickets for the Wellington concerts are are available through Ticketek 0800 842 538 www.ticketek.co.nz and for the Featherston concert, through www.nzsq.co.nz

New Zealand String Quartet Salon Series Tour 2014

NAPIER: Tom McDonald Cellar, Church Road Winery, Taradale | Saturday 30 August 3pm| Book tickets at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz (Salon Series 1)
FEATHERSTON: House concert at 103 Fitzherbert St | Sunday 31 August 3pm | Book tickets through NZ String Quartet www.nzsq.co.nz (Salon Series 2)
AUCKLAND: Q Theatre | Friday 5 September 6.30pm | Book tickets at Q Theatre (09) 309 9771 www.qtheatre.co.nz (Salon Series 1)
AUCKLAND: Q Theatre | Saturday 6 September 4.00pm | Book tickets at Q Theatre (09) 309 9771 www.qtheatre.co.nz (Salon Series 2)
CHRISTCHURCH: St Michael and All Angels Church | Tuesday 9 September 8pm | Door Sales only (Salon Series 3)
GERALDINE: Lodge Theatre| Wednesday 10 September 7.30pm | Book tickets through NZ String Quartet www.nzsq.co.nz (Salon Series 1)
DUNEDIN: First Church | Thursday 11 September 7.30pm | Book tickets at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz (Salon Series 2)
BLENHEIM*: Cloudy Bay Vineyard | Saturday 13 September 5.00pm | Book tickets at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz (Salon Series 1)
NELSON: Old St John’s Church | Sunday 14 September 3.00pm | Book tickets at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz (Salon Series 2)
WELLINGTON: Hunter Council Chamber | Friday 19 September 7.00pm | Book tickets at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz (Salon Series 2)
WELLINGTON**: Prefab Café | Sunday 21 September 3.00pm | Book tickets at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz (Salon Series 1)
*Cloudy Bay – Wine and food platters are available for purchase (not included in ticket price). Concertgoers can order platters on arrival and they will be served at half time. Wine can be purchased on arrival, at half time and at the end of the concert. Seating will include chairs and tables in soiree-style.
**Wellington – Prefab venue will include wine, coffee and food that can be purchased at the venue

PROGRAMMES

Salon Series One
J.S.Bach – Air from Suite No 3
Mozart – String Quartet in C, K. 157 - Allegro, Andante, Presto
Tchaikovsky – Cantabile
Shostakovich – Polka
Chopin – Etude, Opus 25, No 7
Farr – Mambo Rambo
Puccini – Crisantemi
Schubert – Quartet in E flat
Barber – Adagio, Opus 11
Dvořák – two waltzes, Opus 54

Salon Series Two
Movements from the Bach suites
Haydn – Gypsy Quartet, Opus 54, No 2
Zhou Long – Song of the Ch'in
Wolf – Italian Serenade
Grieg – String Quartet in G minor, Opus 27

Salon Series Three
Haydn – String Quartet in C, Opus 54, No 2
Brahms – String Quartet No 3 in B flat, Opus 67
Grieg – String Quartet No 1 in G minor, Opus 27

ENDS

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