Storyteller: Legend in Hawke's Bay (incl. Dinner)

THIS CONCERT & DINNER IS SOLD OUT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME.

Dinner and Concert at Black Barn Bistro

Behind every piece of music is a story and across our 2026 Storyteller's Season we're diving into them. Join us at Black Barn Bistro near Havelock North for a special evening celebrating the art of storytelling through music and a wonderful 2-course dinner prepared by the chefs at the award-winning restaurant.

'LEGEND' PROGRAMME FOR BLACK BARN BISTRO:

Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No. 11, in F minor (Op. 95)

Claire Cowan Scenes from Hansel & Gretel

Benjamin Britten String Quartet No. 3, in G major (Op. 94)

‘Legend’ opens with Beethoven’s high-octane Op. 95 quartet, a piece that changed the direction of string quartet writing and continues to surprise and thrill audiences to this day.

Claire Cowan was the first New Zealand woman to compose a full-length ballet. Here she takes scenes from her internationally-celebrated score ‘Hansel and Gretel’, reimagining the magic of the ballet stage for string quartet.

To bring our 2026 Season to a close, we’ll mark the fiftieth anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s death with his third and final string quartet. This quietly luminous piece, based on themes from his final opera, ‘Death in Venice’, serves as a poignant musical farewell, made even more profound by the fact it was the last major work Britten ever composed.

We welcome guest violinist Martin Riseley on this Legend tour.

The concert programme, crafted in our signature style, aims to engage audiences of all levels of familiarity with chamber music. Each piece of music is preceded by a lively and informative introduction delivered by the Quartet members themselves. These introductions seek to shed light on the stories behind the music, making it an enriching experience suitable for all audiences.