Classical music celebration returns to Queenstown
Queenstown’s Whakatipu Music Festival returns to the Arts calendar this Easter featuring superb live performances.
Six stunning concerts will feature an outstanding line up of up-and-coming young talent performing alongside well-known international and New Zealand musicians.
Twelve emerging New Zealand musicians aged 18-28 went through a rigorous selection process to be chosen to perform. Over festival week they receive guidance and coaching from five internationally-renowned artists who will also perform over the four-day weekend from April 18 to 21.
The artists include choral director Dr. Karen Grylls, pianists Bernadette Harvey and Stephen De Pledge, cellist Julian Smiles and violinist Ioana Cristina Goicea (winner of the 2017 Michael Hill International Violin Competition).
These six major performances take place at the Queenstown Memorial Centre, showcasing everything from Bach to Broadway. Festival director Anne Rodda says they’re thrilled to bring three centuries of exceptional repertoire to the heart of Queenstown.
“People will already know and admire many of the pieces so we’re sure they’ll be delighted with the musical gems on offer,” she says.
Opening Night on April 18 features talented artists at the start of their careers performing works for voice and violin and concludes with Brahms’ beautiful piano trio brought to life by Ioana Cristina Goicea, Julian Smiles and Bernadette Harvey.
Saturday’s concerts include Next Gen 1 giving young local musicians their chance to shine alongside some of the emerging young artists. Later that evening Urbane roams between Brahms, Boulanger and Mozart, a soirée with something to delight all musical tastes.
A delightful Sunday afternoon performance called Next Gen 2 highlights choral and instrumental works traversing classical, Baroque and contemporary musical styles. From 7pm, Musical Smorgasbord ranges from Liszt’s Romantic-era piano sonata to British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylors’s piano quintet and Rebecca Clarke’s sonata for viola and piano. For a sweet dessert, there’s an appealing selection of light operetta works.
The weekend revs up to the grand final concert Rejoice! featuring a massed choir and professional orchestra celebrating ensemble and choral music-making combining community, emerging artists and renowned musicians.
“They’ll celebrate Easter by singing their hearts out with the Hallelujah Chorus, O Fortuna and everyone’s favourite Beethoven’s Ode To Joy,” says Anne.
“We’d really love as many people as possible to join us in celebrating this Easter season with music that touches the heart and thrills the soul.”
A series of workshops are held alongside the concerts and keen music lovers are invited to participate.
Event tickets are on sale at eventfinda.co.nz.
