The Waikanae Music Society will be welcoming back one of their favourite ensembles for a concert on Anzac Day (Sunday 25 April).
The Amici Ensemble, led by NZSO Associate Concertmaster Donald Armstrong have performed in Waikanae almost every year for more than a decade and are unfailingly popular with audiences. One reason for their popularity is the wide variety of instruments and differing combinations that they offer – this year’s concert will feature seven instrumentalists (violins, viola, cello, flute, harp and clarinet). To achieve this, Amici will be joined by another ensemble, the flute and harp duo known as Flight (Bridget Douglas and Carolyn Mills). Almost all the musicians are principal players with the NZSO and are well-known soloists and chamber music performers.
The music in this concert is all from the early decades of the 20th Century and has a distinctly French/Spanish theme. Although it is a coincidence that this programme is to be presented on Anzac Day, all of the composers featured in this concert were in some way affected by the events of World War 1 and it is interesting to reflect that such wonderful works of art can emerge from a time of such suffering.
The largest piece on the programme is also the earliest. Ravel’s evocative masterpiece Introduction and Allegro was composed in 1906. Written for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet, it will see all seven musicians on stage at once and draws some magical combinations of sound from such a rich variety of instruments.
The concert, in the Waikanae Memorial Hall, starts at 2.30pm. Door sales will be available, or tickets can be bought from Waikanae New World, Moby Dickens Books in Paraparaumu Beach and from Bookstacks in Raumati.
Enquiries are welcome on 905 6070 or visit www.waikanaemusic.org
