Annual themed concert series

Each year, the New Zealand String Quartet takes its audiences on a soul-stirring journey through a selected part of the great string quartet or wider chamber repertoire. Tours with names like French Connections (2008), Famous Last Words (2005), and Life and Love (2004) offered their audiences diverse programmes ranging from well-loved favourites to seldom-performed masterpieces. Composers’ anniversaries have been recognised in a creative and enlightening way that draws audiences into the language and spirit of the composer as in the Magical Mozart Tour with pianist Péter Nagy (2006). And in Bach and Mendelssohn – A Divine Obsession (2007), the Quartet explored the relationship between the two composers revealing the influences in their music.

Cellist Rolf Gjelsten says: “When we programme around a theme and perform works many times over a concentrated period, we are aware of the evolution and deepening understanding of our interpretations. Our audiences are able to share this intense involvement and we all enjoy the bonding that happens between us, particularly in venues that have a great acoustic and an intimate ambience.”

New Zealand String Quartet annual series tours also offer the players the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring artists such as Péter Nagy, Anton Kuerti, and Jenny Wollerman. The upcoming 2011 tour, Hungarian Rhapsodies, is again with pianist Péter Nagy.

Read more about some of these tours and their programmes.