Gillian Whitehead (NZ) Weaving Time and Distance

Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No 3 in D major Op 18 No 3

Tan Dun Eight Colours

Claude Debussy String Quartet in G minor Op 10

The New Zealand String Quartet Te Rōpū Tūrū o Aotearoa celebrates its 40th birthday this year and is the country's longest-serving professional chamber ensemble. It has established an international reputation for its insightful interpretations, compelling communication and dynamic performing style. The members are Peter Clark – violin, Gillian Ansell - viola, Martin Smith – cello, with a new violinist to be announced soon.

It is very appropriate for this concert to open Sunday Concert’s 2027 season as Wellington Chamber Music was actively involved in supporting the establishment of the quartet and has presented them many times.

In 2019 the quartet celebrated 25 years of organising the Adam Chamber Music School and has been quartet in residence at the Te Kōkī NZ School of Music since 1991.

The quartet prides itself on the number of new Aotearoa New Zealand compositions it showcases each year.

The concert recognises that 2027 is 200 years since Beethoven’s death. Gillian Whitehead's most recent string quartet was inspired by Beethoven Op 18 No 3 (which was, confusingly, the first quartet Beethoven ever wrote). The Dunn and Debussy works reflect impressionism and painting. Tan Dun says his work “consists of eight very short sections, almost like a set of brush paintings, through which materials are shared and developed.”

Email: sundayconcertsnz@gmail.com