Big treat for all concert goers

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.

"The concert is costing us $4000, which will strain our resources, but we believe Whangarei should be able to hear the best string ensemble New Zealand has to offer, they really are world class. We're just hoping the music lovers of the district will back us up."

Whangarei classical music reviewer Paul Serotsky said the opportunity to see and hear the quartet was unmissable and promised to be a highlight of the year. "An opportunity to hear NZSQ in the flesh, playing two of Beethoven's finest, is something no music-lover worth his or her salt should miss."

Mr Serotsky described the works in the programme, from Beethoven's 'middle period', as "good, red meat with knobs on! Beethoven was responsible for revolutionising the expressive power of the symphony orchestra, kick-starting the Romantic Age and paving the way for the likes of Berlioz, Brahms, Mahler and Shostakovich, to name but four.

"He pulled off exactly the same feat for that most perfectly poised of instrumental ensembles, the string quartet. In fact, hardly a string quartet of any note has been composed since that does not owe something to Beethoven's shining example."

NZ String Quartet, Thursday, 6.30pm, Old Library, enquiries Shonah Scott, ph 434 0540.