Mon 26 Oct (Labour Day) 2:30pm
RESCHEDULED from Sun 13 Sept
Wilma’s Friends
“Liu’s ear for detail meant that the dappled strands of sound impulse were kept flowing and undulating – marvellous playing.” Peter Mechen – Middle C
Programme
Mahler: Piano Quartet in A minor
Schumann: Piano Quartet in Eb Major, Op 47
Dvořák: Piano Quartet No 2 in Eb, Opus 87
Wilma Smith has a long and warm relationship with Waikanae Music Society dating back to the early days of the New Zealand String Quartet when she was their founding leader. Unfortunately, as Wilma lives in Melbourne, she is unable to travel to New Zealand for this concert. She will be replaced by violinist Martin Riseley, Head of Strings at the NZ School of Music.
Pianist Jian Liu, Head of Piano at the NZ School of Music. has earned an international reputation as a sought-after solo pianist, chamber musician, and educator. Joining Martin and Jian are two NZSO musicians, Andrew Joyce (cello) and Nicholas Hancox (viola). As a tribute to Wilma they have chosen to change the title of the concert to “Wilma’s Friends”.
Their programme is unashamedly romantic, opening with the charming little one-movement Mahler quartet, written when the composer was only 15 or 16 years of age. It is followed by Schumann’s much-loved Piano Quartet (possibly the most popular piano quartet in the repertoire). The second part of the concert features the well-known Piano Quartet No 2 in Eb by Dvořak.