Shostakovich: UNPACKED with Jian Liu Nelson Arts Festival
Tue, 28 Oct
|Nelson Centre of Musical Arts
Celebrate Shostakovich fifty years after his death. Due to popular demand, we're bringing our exciting collaboration with Jian Liu to Whakatū Nelson as part of Nelson Arts Festival.
Time & Location
28 Oct 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Nelson Centre of Musical Arts, 48 Nile Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
About the event
Take a front row seat to the raw emotional power of one of the 20th century’s most defiant musical voices.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Dmitri Shostakovich, the New Zealand String Quartet will take to the stage alongside award-winning pianist, Jian Liu, to explore some of this legendary composer’s most powerful chamber music.
Following a performance of Shostakovich’s celebrated Piano Quintet, you’ll bear witness to the very last work written by Dimitri Shostakovich. Award-winning pianist Jian Liu joins beloved NZSQ founding member, Gillian Ansell MNZN for his Viola Sonata.
Ending in hushed silence, and in almost total darkness, this concert will not only leave you deeply moved by what Shostakovich experienced throughout his own life but also inspire reflection of what we as human beings still experience throughout our world today. Don’t miss your chance to witness this incredible piece of chamber music, first hand.
Made with support from The Diessl Family, New Zealand School of Music & Creative New Zealand.
Concert Four: Tuesday 28 October, 7pm, NZSQ x Jian Liu
Artists onstage: NZSQ / Jian Liu
Shostakovich: Piano Quintet, Viola and Piano Sonata
Unpacked: Special Announcement
Spotlight: The artistic culmination of “Shostakovich: UNPACKED”, and the heart of the entire series. Following a performance of Shostakovich’s celebrated Piano Quintet, bear witness to one of the most special artistic collaborations of 2025. Award-winning pianist Jian Liu joins beloved NZSQ founding member, Gillian Ansell MNZN, in the very last work written by Dimitri Shostakovich. Ending in hushed silence, and in almost total darkness, this concert will not only leave listeners deeply moved by what Shostakovich experienced throughout his own life but also inspire reflection of what we as human beings still experience throughout our world today.
Tickets: $39 - $49
Full series in order:
Wednesday 9 July, 6:30pm & 8:30pm, NZSQ + Orchestra Wellington | Wellington
Wednesday 6 August, 6:30pm, NZSQ + Antipodes Quartet | Wellington
Wednesday 24 September, 7pm, NZSQ + Ghost Trio | Auckland
Wednesday 1 October, 6:30pm, NZSQ + Ghost Trio | Wellington
Tuesday 28 October, 7pm, NZSQ + Jian Liu | Nelson
Tuesday 25 November, 6:30pm, NZSQ + Jian Liu | Wellington