Programmes & projects
Repertoire
These Repertoire pages include the repertoire the New Zealand String Quartet is currently performing, special themed concerts and series the Quartet has presented in recent years and exciting new works by New Zealand composers available for your concert programme.
Current repertoire
The repertoire and sample programmes listed on this page are available for the 2013 season. If you are a presenter with specific requirements the Quartet members are happy to consider other repertoire and to work with you to create programmes suitable for your event or audience.
Themed concerts & series
Since 2002 the musicians of the New Zealand String Quartet have taken a theme and used it to explore a particular area of chamber repertoire in depth. They’ve then shared their discoveries with audiences through two linked programmes in an annual New Zealand series now eagerly awaited. The themes are most often a composer or group of composers, but sometimes these stretch to a nationality (French, Czech) or an extra-musical idea that links a particular group of compositions.
- BEETHOVEN! The Complete String Quartets
- New Zealand at Kings Place
- Seven Strings by Candlelight
- Hungarian Rhapsodies New Zealand Tour 2011
- Haydn and the String Quartet
- French Connections
- Bach and Mendelssohn – A Divine Obsession!
New Zealand music
The New Zealand String Quartet has a strong commitment to performance of New Zealand compositions and is well-known for including music from New Zealand in its concert programmes.
- Jack Body – Three Transcriptions for String Quartet
- Gareth Farr – Mondo Rondo (1997)
- Ross Harris – String Quartet No. 3 (Variations on Blood Red Roses)
- Gao Ping – Bright Light and Cloud Shadows
- John Psathas – Kartsigar (2004) for String Quartet
- Gillian Karawe Whitehead – Puhake ki te rangi
- The Travelling Portmanteau – Four Gems for String Quartet
Special projects
Creative collaborations and specially designed programmes bring audiences a fresh and lively view of chamber music.
Collaborating across art forms
Innovative, exciting and sometimes unexpected collaborations with actors, dancers, poets and visual artists have led the New Zealand String Quartet across boundaries in fascinating multi-disciplinary projects.
Musical collaborations
The New Zealand String Quartet has collaborated with many internationally renowned artists. They also work with New Zealand composers and many new works have been commissioned specifically for them. Sometimes collaborative relationships take them across musical or cultural boundaries, often introducing them to new audiences.
- The NZSQ and Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra – a new collaboration
- Music by Gillian Whitehead for string quartet and Taonga Puoro
Family & school concerts
The engaging musicians of the New Zealand String Quartet love to take their instruments, music and ideas to young audiences, and their outstanding communication skills ensure everyone has a good time while learning more about great chamber music.
Adam Summer School
8-16 February 2014 in Nelson with the New Zealand String Quartet & Diedre Irons.
Purpose
The 2014 Adam Summer School is presented by the New Zealand String Quartet and will be held in Nelson from 8 -16 February 2014. It will provide the opportunity for up to 30 of New Zealand’s best young string players and pianists to commit themselves to eight days of intense chamber music-making under the guidance of the New Zealand String Quartet and pianist Diedre Irons.
Information
The 2014 Adam Summer School is sponsored by the Adam Foundation in association with Creative New Zealand, the New Zealand String Quartet Trust and the Nelson School of Music.
Application
Applications are open to students of piano, violin, viola, ‘cello and double bass. Applications close: 5.00pm Friday 4 October 2013.
Tutors
New Zealand String Quartet – Helene Pohl (First violin), Douglas Beilman (Second violin), Gillian Ansell (Viola), Rolf Gjelsten (‘Cello)
Diedre Irons (piano)
Sponsors
Thank you to our very generous sponsors.
2014 dates & times
A summary of important dates related to the Adam Summer School.
