One of the most admired ensembles in New Zealand will play in Whangarei before heading to Australia as part of a tour at home and abroad to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The New Zealand String Quartet will offer its audience at the Old Library on Thursday evening the chance to hear the respected quartet playing some of the most influential and challenging classical works written; Beethoven's String Quartets, Op. 59 No. 1 and 2 Razumovsky.
The programme and the quality of the musicians are expected to appeal to a wide audience, including concert-goers who do not usually follow classical music.
Whangarei Music Society president Lois Williams said the New Zealand String Quartet - Rolf Gjelsten (cello), Gillian Ansell (viola), Helene Pohl (violin) and Douglas Beilman (violin) - had been a favourite of audiences in the past. "An NZSQ concert is always a treat and this programme is likely to be hugely popular. It starts at the earlier than usual time of 6.30pm. We are mindful that many concert-goers are reluctant to be out late in the colder months so we hope this timing will encourage them to support the event," Ms Williams said.
Ms Williams said the quartet was keen to revisit the Old Library where they performed the first concert in the venue's role as a community arts centre, and attracted an enthusiastic crowd of over 200 people. The quartet chose to perform at the Old Library again because of the acoustics, she said.