Beethoven reCYCLE - Part Three

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11 October - 10 November 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 Three of this year-long cycle concludes the sonatas across three programmes (programme five, six and seven). Each programme features either the Pathétique, Moonlight or Les Adieux. 
See the tour guide below for more information on which programme is being performed in which of our main centres.

When & Where

DateProgrammeTimeVenueCentre
11 October 13 Pathetique 8pm, free pre-concert talk TBC MTG Theatre Napier
12 October 13 Moonlight 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk TBC MTG Theatre Napier
13 October 13 Les Adieux 5pm, free pre-concert talk TBC MTG Theatre Napier
15 October 13 Moonlight 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk 6:45pm Regent on Broadway Palmerston North
19 October 13 Pathetique 7.30pm Glenroy Auditorium Dunedin
20 October 13 Moonlight 5pm Civic Theatre Invercargill
23 October 13 Moonlight 7.30pm School of Music Nelson
25 October 13 Pathetique 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Middleton Grange Performing Arts Centre Christchurch
26 October 13 Moonlight 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Middleton Grange Performing Arts Centre Christchurch
28 October 13 Les Adieux 4pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Middleton Grange Performing Arts Centre Christchurch
1 November 13 Pathetique 8pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Auckland Concert Chamber Auckland
2 November 13 Moonlight 8pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Auckland Concert Chamber Auckland
3 November 13 Les Adieux 5pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Auckland Concert Chamber Auckland
5 November 13 Les Adieux 7.30pm Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts Hamilton
6 November 13 Pathetique 7.30pm Theatre Royal New Plymouth
8 November 13 Pathetique 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Michael Fowler Centre Wellington
10 November 13 Moonlight 5pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Michael Fowler Centre Wellington
11 November 13 Les Adieux 7.30pm, free pre-concert talk TBC Michael Fowler Centre Wellington