• Concerts
• Programme One
• Programme Two

4 - 23 August 2012 VIEW TOUR GUIDE

“Pierard’s sound is the purest tempered steel ...”  The Independent (London)

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ARTISTS:
Madeleine Pierard (soprano), Terence Dennis (piano), Anna Pierard (mezzo soprano)

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Rising star soprano Madeleine Pierard returns to New Zealand to perform with esteemed pianist Terence Dennis and her talented sister Anna.

Madeleine won the 2005 Lexus Song Quest before pursuing an MMus at London’s Benjamin Britten Opera School. She is currently a Jette Parker Young Artist with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

New Zealand pianist Terence Dennis, who last toured for CMNZ with Anna Leese in 2008 and regularly works with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, will be performing alongside Madeleine. Anna Pierard will join them for four concerts, having recently performed the role of Lola in New Zealand Opera’s Cavalleria Rusticana to critical acclaim.

The concert repertoire includes Canteloube’s gorgeous Songs of the Auvergne and Berg’s lush Seven Early Songs, which show influences of Bruckner, Mahler and Debussy.

Both programmes feature a specially commissioned work from Ross Harris, Songs for Beatrice. Ross worked closely with poet Vincent O’Sullivan to create the work which honours New Zealand astronomer Beatrice Tinsley.

Beatrice Tinsley was a pioneer who was famous in her field of scientific research, but she was little known in New Zealand. She was Professor of Astronomy at Yale University and was part of the team which discovered that the universe was infinitely expanding. Beatrice also played violin and loved Bach and this is reflected in one of the songs in the work ‘True Romance’.

"The name Beatrice of course has marvellous resonances, while her dealing with galaxies as 'a job', and the tragedy of her early death, spurred us both. It was also a way to celebrate and honour who she was and what she did.” - Vincent O'Sullivan

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DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME ONE (Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Wellington, Hamilton)

DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME TWO (Napier, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Auckland) 

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Listen to the Radio New Zealand Concert review from the opening concert of this tour in Napier.

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Listen to Madeleine Pierard talking to Eva Radich about her tour on Radio New Zealand, 31 July 2012.

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Listen to the Radio New Zealand special on Cosmologist Beatrice Tinsley, on who Songs for Beatrice is written.

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The above clip is taken from live recording of the Crush Room Lunchtime Recital featuring Madeleine Pierard and pianist, Jean-Paul Pruna. May 23, 2011. Crush Room, Royal Opera House, London. This piece will be performed in both programmes on the tour. http://www.madeleinepierard.com/listen.html

The above soundclip is taken from live recording of Lunchtime concert at The National Opera Studio with pianist, Jean-Paul Pruna. February 2, 2010. Blackburn Hall, National Opera Studio, London. This piece will be performed in programme 2 on the tour. http://www.madeleinepierard.com/listen.html 

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When & Where

Date	Programme	Time	Venue	Centre
4 August 12	Programme Two	8pm, free pre-concert talk 7pm	Napier Municipal Theatre	Napier
7 August 12	Programme Two	7.30pm, free pre-concert talk 6:45pm	The Speirs Centre 263 Featherston St	Palmerston North
9 August 12	Programme Two	7.30pm	Theatre Royal TSB Showplace	New Plymouth
11 August 12	Programme One	7.30pm	Middleton Grange Performing Arts Centre	Christchurch
14 August 12	Programme One	7.30pm	Regent Theatre	Dunedin
16 August 12	Programme One	7.30pm	Civic Theatre	Invercargill
18 August 12	Programme One	7.30pm	Nelson School of Music	Nelson
20 August 12	Programme One	7.30pm, free pre-concert talk 6:30pm	Wellington Town Hall	Wellington
22 August 12	Programme One	8pm	Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts	Hamilton
23 August 12	Programme Two	8pm, free pre-concert talk 7pm	Auckland Town Hall	Auckland