We are delighted to welcome Michael back to our stage, after having said our farewells in 2020 when he retired. Of course, he has already unexpectedly returned when he stepped in to help out Wilma Smith and her Argyle Trio after their pianist was unable to travel from Australia. Now, proudly “unretired” and apparently with no intention of retiring, Michael will be back to bring us a typically varied and enterprising recital of works ranging from J S Bach to the 21st century.

The English Suite in G minor is probably the most popular of Bach’s six English Suites. The well-known Ravel Pavane will lead into the Valses nobles et sentimentales, intended by Ravel as a set of Schubertian waltzes, but his distinctive use of dissonance and his rhythmic subtlety transformed the Viennese dance into something more sophisticated. Schumann’s Humoreske is typically romantic and engaging and then we have two more Waltzes – new works by Chinese/New Zealand composer Gao Ping which Michael describes as “charming”. Chopin will end the recital in style; the Grande valse brilliante and the fourth Scherzo – the only one of Chopin’s Scherzos in a major key and the only one that is filled with joy and gaiety.

Tomairangi Henare (baritone), Matt Barris (baritone/tenor),Morgan-Andrew King (bass), “LJ” (Lila Junior) Crichton (tenor). Not photographed – Alex Jefferies (piano)

Be prepared to be delighted and entertained as these four talented young men share with us their love of singing. They have all studied Classical Voice at the New Zealand School of Music and first combined their talents as an ensemble in Puccini’s La Boheme. Their accompanist will be Alex Jefferies who has worked with them at the NZSM.

Born in Samoa, LJ Crichton has won multiple awards including the Deane Endowment Trust Jonathan Lemalu Scholarship and the Prima Volta Graduates Residency. He has performed in operatic roles and as soloist with several choirs.

Matthew Barris discovered his love for singing at Tawa College and has had vast experience and success with barbershop choirs. He is co-director of FilCoro – a Filipino Community Choir – and looks forward to a teaching career.

Tomairangi Henare’s background in kapa haka and musical theatre led to classical singing studies and several operatic roles. He is also studying composition at the NZSM.

Morgan-Andrew King is taking a double degree in music and biomedical science. From early participation in kapa haka, he toured to Asia with the NZ Secondary Schools Choir and has taken solo roles with choirs and in operas. He recently received a 2021 Waikanae Music Society Charitable Trust Scholarship.

Donald Armstrong (violin), Andrew Thomson (viola), Malavika Gopal (violin),
Alexander McFarlane (viola), Jian Liu (piano), Andrew Joyce (cello), Ken Ichinose (cello)

Due to Covid restrictions we can only admit 100 to each concert. Only members will be admitted and there will be no more sales from our ticket outlets. If you are a member, you may pay at the door ($30 – cash, EFTPOS or credit card). Holders of season tickets will not be given precedence over other members; all will be treated equally, in order of arrival.

No memberships will be sold at the concert. If you wish to attend, you must pay your membership fee in advance, early enough to be sent your membership card before the concert – we recommend no later than Friday, 4th February. Enquiries: phone Paul Dunmore at 021 251 7030.

The concerts will be operated in accordance with Covid regulations applicable at the time.
• You must wear a mask while inside the building (unless medically exempted).
• No food or drink will be provided. You may wish to bring your own water bottle.
• You must bring your Covid vaccination pass and present it for viewing and possible validation.

Donald Armstrong and his Amici Ensemble are regular favourites in Waikanae – no season would be complete without them. New to this familiar group of accomplished NZSO musicians is Alexander McFarlane, recently appointed as Associate Principal Viola. And they are joined by renowned pianist Jian Liu in a programme of three masterworks from three very different eras.

The concert opens with what is probably the best-known of Haydn’s piano trios, nicknamed the “Gypsy” because of its exhilarating finale “in the Hungarian Style”. In total contrast is Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet, written in 1940 when Russia was on the brink of war. The first performance was a triumph and won Shostakovich Russia’s highest honour – the Stalin Prize. The quintet is regarded as one of the composer’s greatest achievements and one of the greatest chamber works of the 20th Century.

Brahms wrote his two youthful string sextets some years before he ventured to write a string quartet. He relished the deep sonority, rich harmonies and almost orchestral range of tone-colours that the additional viola and cello offered, and the sextets stand among his greatest masterpieces. No 1 in Bb is a work of great charm, in turns intimate, melancholy, humorous and triumphant.