Presented by Chamber Music New Zealand

“Art triumphs over adversity in the dark night of the soul. Clarinettist Jonathan Cohen joins the celebrated NZTrio for a meditative journey through one of Messiaen’s earliest masterworks.

Composed and premiered whilst Messiaen was interned at a prisoner of war camp during WWII, this evocative work transcends time and space, and is filled with the jubilant song of birds flying free from captivity.”

PROGRAMME (approx. 1.5 hours)
BEETHOVEN | Piano Trio No. 4 in B flat major, op 11 “Gassenhauer Trio”
Ross HARRIS | There may be light
MESSIAEN | Quartet for the End of Time (Quatuor pour la fin du temps)

BOOK TICKETS HERE

We’re thrilled to present this year’s Auckland subscription series Dramatic Skies:

As the name suggests, the series leads us through intense emotional contrasts, from sweetness and light to drama and darkness. The bookends – two Rachmaninoff piano trios, both named élégiaque – indicate the powerful emotional journey within the series.

Each concert presents works from overseas and, like the clouds in the title, some are bright and billowy like familiar shapes passing by while others are dark, brooding and portentous. These globe-drifters gather around the lofty peaks of Aotearoa’s musical landscape. There are two Kiwi works at the heart of each concert, a brand new commission and an older favourite.

BOOK CUMULUS HERE

Dramatic Skies: Cumulus – Sunday, September 5th, 5pm

Auckland Town Hall, Concert Chamber

Tickets $50 Adult / $25 Student

10% discount for SOUNZ members

Grieg: Andante Con Moto in C minor

Schifrin: Hommage a Ravel

McLeod: Clouds (new commission)

Taylor: burlesques mécaniques – ten miniatures for piano trio

Smetana: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15

Cumulus maps a dramatic voyage, from deep melancholy touched with hints of hope in the Grieg, through a quirky reflection of Ravel’s life and music from Schifrin’s unique point of view, and deep into Smetana’s mournful response to the death of his daughter.

These billowing global masterpieces come to surround and embrace the eminent locals at the heart of the programme – two edgy works by Kiwi composers at the peak of creativity: a rediscovery of Alex Taylor’s remarkable set of rugged miniatures burlesques mécaniques, and the premiere of a mist-covered new work from Jenny McLeod.

Duration 1.5 hours, plus interval followed by complimentary refreshments in the lounge.

Wheelchair accessible