Beethoven reCYCLE - Part Two

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23 June - 1 September 2013 VIEW TOUR GUIDE

“Outstanding Beethoven all round. The special attraction is the rare spiritual dimension in Houstoun’s playing of the serene finales... It’s as though Beethoven were no longer of this planet when he wrote them” The Listener

ARTISTS: Michael Houstoun (piano)

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Beethoven’s cycle of 32 sonatas is the most remarkable series for piano ever composed. Written the whole length of his creative life, from the early Op 2 dedicated to Haydn to the mighty Op 111 which takes the piano into the realms of pure imagination, this is the “New Testament of the piano repertoire” and one of the supreme treasures of human artistic endeavour. Their famous names – Moonlight, Tempest, Appassionata, Waldstein – have entered the pantheon
of cultural history, and Houstoun presents them here after being “totally immersed” for 20 years with this most extraordinary, human, and powerful of composers.

Michael Houstoun, famously, chose to return to New Zealand after his spectacular sweep of fi nal prizes in the world’s three most prestigious piano competitions – the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1973), Leeds Competition (1975) and Tchaikovsky Competition (1982). Hugely in demand for concertos with our fi nest orchestras and chamber concerts the length of the country – his regular CMNZ tours with the winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition included – he has been based here ever since, and is adding increasing solo recitals to his repertoire with his recent Goldberg and Beethoven Diabelli Variations. In 2012 he was appointed CNZM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for  services as a pianist, and returns to Beethoven at the very height of his powers.

Part Two of this year-long cycle is made up of the fourth programme which includes Beethoven's Apassionata. This programme will be performed in all 10 main centres - Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

When & Where

DateProgrammeTimeVenueCentre
23 June 13 Appassionata 5pm, free pre-concert talk 4pm Municipal Theatre Napier
26 June 13 Appassionata 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk 6:45pm Regent on Broadway Palmerston North
30 June 13 Appassionata 5pm, free pre-concert talk 4pm Wellington Town Hall Wellington
16 August 13 Appassionata 7.30pm Civic Theatre Invercargill
18 August 13 Appassionata 5pm Glenroy Auditorium Dunedin
20 August 13 Appassionata 7.30pm School of Music Nelson
25 August 13 Appassionata 5pm Theatre Royal New Plymouth
26 August 13 Appassionata 8pm, free pre-concert talk 7pm Auckland Town Hall Auckland
28 August 13 Appassionata 7.30pm Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts Hamilton
1 September 13 Appassionata 4pm TBC Christchurch