“…sublime playing … expressive, creative power and unrestrained life energy…” - Göttinger Tageblatt, Germany
Immerse yourself in a glorious programme featuring the greats of the Russian canon. From the lush Romantic repertoire we’ll bring you Borodin’s Quartetno 2, a declaration of love to his wife, and Tchaikovsky’s Quartet no 1, said to have moved the great Tolstoy to tears. Shorter pieces by Rachmaninov and Stravinsky will add colour to the mix while quartets by Shostakovich will reflect the harsh influence of the Soviet regime. Although Nikolai Kapustin is virtually unknown in this part of the world, we’re sure you’ll enjoy his jazz-influenced style of post-Cold War composition.
Whether you’re a confirmed ‘Russophile’, a chamber music devotee or a complete newcomer to our concerts, we know you’ll love our Russian Icons series. We like our concerts to be two-way experiences so this year we’re inviting audience members in selected centres to spin the wheel to choose a movement to be played in the second half of the concert. Kind of ‘Russian roulette’, except everyone wins!
Read more “Top class” response to Russian Icons concerts.
Sat 22 Aug, 5:00pm | Cloudy Bay Vineyard, Blenheim | Programme Three
Sun 23 Aug, 3:00pm | Old St John's, Nelson | Programme One
Wed 26 Aug, 6:00pm | Wanganui War Memorial Centre | Programme Four
Sat 29 Aug, 7:30pm | Church Road Winery, Napier | Programme Two
Sun 30 Aug, 3:00pm | House Concert, 103 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston | Programme Three
Thu 3 Sep, 7:30pm | Turner Centre, Kerikeri | Programme Two
Sat 5 Sep, 5:00pm | Holy Trinity Church, Devonport | Programme One
Sun 6 Sep, 5:00pm | Pah Homestead, Auckland | Programme Two
Fri 11 Sep, 7:30pm | Pataka Museum, Porirua | Programme Four
Tue 15 Sep, 8:00pm | St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch | Christopher’s Classics
Wed 16 Sep, 7:30pm | Lodge Theatre, Geraldine | Programme Three
Fri 18 Sep, 7:30pm | St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington | Programme One
Sun 20 Sep, 3:00pm | Hunter Council Chamber, Wellington | Programme Two
Programme One Rachmaninov: Two Movements for String Quartet Shostakovich: String Quartet no. 3 in F, op 73 INTERVAL Tchaikovsky: String Quartet no. 1 in D, op 11 Programme Two Kapustin: "Fuga" from Quartet no. 1 Stravinsky: Three Pieces Shostakovich: String Quartet no.4 in D INTERVAL Borodin: String Quartet no 2 Programme Three Rachmaninov: Two Movements for String Quartet Tchaikovsky: String Quartet no. 1 in D, op 11 INTERVAL ‘Russian Roulette’ – selected movements by Borodin, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Kapustin Programme Four Rachmaninov: Two Movements for String Quartet Borodin: String Quartet no 2 INTERVAL ‘Russian Roulette’ – selected movements by Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Kapustin Christopher’s Classics Lilburn: ‘Phantasy’ Quartet Rachmaninov: Romance for String Quartet Shostakovich: String Quartet no 3 in F Tchaikovsky: Quartet no 1 in D