A brand-new classical music festival is happening in Queenstown this Queen’s Birthday weekend.
The Wakatipu Music Festival celebrates the newest and brightest NZ musical stars including NZTrio, clarinettist Jonathan Cohen, pianist Stephen de Pledge and soprano Anna Leese, alongside specially selected emerging talent. We will have live video of the festival performances right here.
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Timetable:
Friday 7:00pm Waiatatia - NZTrio with guest clarinettist Jonathan Cohen
Saturday 1:00pm Public Talk
Professor Cathy Stinear and Neil Jacobstein: Can Science understand the Arts and should it?
Saturday 2:30pm Young Artist Recitals
Six beautifully-crafted 30 minute performances by New Zealand’s next generation of international talent. KiHei Lee (violin), Hyein Kim (cello), Benedict van Leuven (clarinet), Cecile McNeill (viola), Eli Holmes (bassoon), and Christine Lee (violin), with pianists Liam Wooding, Noelle Danninbring and Tony Yan Tong Chen
Saturday 7:00pm Anna Leese, soprano, Jonathan Cohen, clarinet and Stephen De Pledge, piano.
Sunday 2:30 pm Young Artist Recitals
Six more beautifully-crafted 30 minute performances by New Zealand’s next generation of international talent. Tony Yan Tong Chen (piano),Will King (baritone), Isabella Gregory (flute), Stefenie Pickston (clarinet), Dominic Lee (cello) and Diane Huh (violin), with pianists Liam Wooding and Noelle Dannenbring
Sunday 7:00 pm The Festival’s Young Artists performing chamber music by Brahms, Bartók, Barber, Villa-Lobos and Schubert
Anna van der Leij Photo: Still Vision Photography https://www.stillvision.co.nz/
The Wakatipu Music Festival runs from Friday 4 June through until Monday 7 June, and is presented by the Hill Family Foundation for Art and Music. It is a silver-lining to the Covid-19 cloud, being developed in response to the impossibility of hosting the Michael Hill International Violin Competition this year.
Instead, twelve young up-and-coming musicians are being offered an amazing opportunity. Hand picked for their promise with orchestral instruments, piano or voice, they will perform chamber music together and participate in career development workshops, culminating in a 30-minute public performance by each.
Some of New Zealand’s top performers, including opera singer Anna Leese, NZTrio and pianist Stephen De Pledge, will provide the coaching and will also perform over the weekend.
Another interesting aspect to the festival is its 'training ground', where early-career music industry professionals team up with experienced mentors in delivering the festival to the public.
Upbeat host David Morriss talks with Marketing and Communications manager Anna van der Leij about the festival.
Music details:
WEBER: Grand Duo Concertant in Eb Op 48, excerpt - Andreas Ottensamer (clarinet), Yuja Wang (piano) (DG 4836069)
