Fresh perspective to 19th century classics

Chinese-born, Christchurch-raised pianist Tony Chen Lin is in New Zealand for a nationwide tour with the Sonoro Quartet.

New Zealand pianist Tony Chen Lin is making a welcome return from Hungary alongside Belgium-based string ensemble Sonoro Quartet, for an 11-centre Chamber Music New Zealand tour from July 13 to 28.

With a programme that takes on the mastery of Schubert and Schumann, these musicians are bringing a fresh perspective to 19th century classics. They perform in Gisborne next Wednesday, July 26 at Lawson Field Theatre.

Chen Lin is looking forward to playing in Gisborne and reconnecting with friends here. He first met Gisborne arts patron Jack Richards in 2016 when he toured with CMNZ, and played his last Gisborne concert at Jack’s home Tirimoana last year. His debut album Digressions on Rattle Records, which received critical acclaim and reached No.1 on the New Zealand Classical Chart, was sponsored by Richards.

Quickly gaining an international reputation as a fresh and dynamic string quartet, Sonoro performs over 40 concerts a year across Europe’s leading venues. Arguably one of Belgium’s most active chamber ensembles, they were selected as 2022’s Rising Stars by the European Concert Hall Organisation.

Chinese-born, Christchurch-raised Tony Chen Lin lives and works in Budapest, Hungary. Impressed by the quartet’s warm and captivating performances, the accomplished pianist is thrilled to be touring his home country alongside Sonoro.

“Not only (do they) bring an electrifying energy to their performances, I also admire their openness to experiment, their strong passion, and their courage to dare,” says Chen Lin of his collaborators.

Sonoro are delighted to welcome New Zealand violinists Liu-Yi Retallick and Lara Hall, who will be sharing the position of first violin throughout this nationwide tour.

Fuelled by the emotion and expression of the Romantic era, the programme honours two of the greatest works from the chamber music repertoire. A masterwork among quartets, Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” explores dramatic shifts and colour contrasts, using dark and powerful passages that are met by soft lyrical replies. Schubert’s poignant melodies are paired with Schumann’s exuberant, quintessentially romantic piano quintet. Almost symphonic in scope, the glorious piece speaks to the heart and allows the performers to richly express their own individual voices.

Chen Lin said a serendipitous encounter introduced him to the Sonoro Quartet when he heard them in Budapest two years ago at the Bartók World Competition for String Quartets.

“I was so captivated by their performances that I later asked them to collaborate.”

Audiences can expect to hear two magnificent masterpieces in the chamber music repertoire by two of the greatest masters of the nineteenth century.

“The universality of this music rises above time and place and speaks directly to humanity,” he said.

“Like the glorious culminating fugue in Schumann’s Quintet, each of us adds to its colourful tapestry and contributes to its richness and beauty with our own individual voice, regardless of whether we’re from Belgium, Ireland, France, or just another Chinese-Kiwi from Down Under.”

This Chamber Music New Zealand Puoro Taiwhanga Aotearoa national tour is supported by Creative New Zealand and the Turnovsky Endowment Trust.