Music at the 2011 Auckland Arts Festival
Music Programme
AUCKLAND ARTS FESTIVAL 2011
From contemporary music icons Martha Wainwright and Paul Kelly, to virtuoso baroque ensemble the Lautten Compagney and jazz legend Jack DeJohnette, the Festival presents a showcase of world-class classical, contemporary, opera, cabaret, jazz and cinematic music.
New Zealand’s thriving contemporary music scene, and the writing of literary icon Witi Ihimaera are celebrated in Ihimaera, a very special concert from the producer of popular festival shows Baxter and Tuwhare. Twelve leading recording artists perform new songs that weave together new Ihimaera writing with their music: Lupin (Victoria Girling-Butcher), LA Mitchell, Unitone Hi Fi, Ruia Aperahama, Horomona Horo, Ariana Tikao, The Twinks (PLUTO’s Milan Borich and Tim Arnold), SJD, Teremoana Rapley, Warren Maxwell, King Kapisi and Charlotte Yates. Kirk Torrance (Outrageous Fortune) provides a linking narrative.
Martha Wainwright makes a much-anticipated return to New Zealand for the Festival, performing music from her acclaimed tribute to Edith Piaf, songs from her family (the famous Wainwright/McGarrigle musical dynasty) and her own repertoire. Folk-rock legend Paul Kelly brings his A-Z concerts to Auckland, a remarkable performance of 100 of his best-known songs, performed over four nights – in alphabetical order. Between the songs, Kelly shares anecdotes that feature in his captivating memoir How to make Gravy.
Classical music is an important – and popular – part of the Auckland Arts Festival experience, and 2011 brings festival-goers a rare opportunity to hear Baroque music played by one of the world’s outstanding period ensembles, The Lautten Compagney, in two programmes; Handel with Care, the evocative music of George Frederic Handel, and Timeless, the music of Philip Glass and Tarquino Merula. The ensemble’s recording of Timeless won the prestigious 2010 Echo Klassic Ensemble of the Year award (the German equivalent of a Grammy). The Berlin-based ensemble will also play in the pit for the much anticipated NZ Opera presentation of Handel’s Xerxes, starring Tobias Cole and Tiffany Speight, with direction by Roger Hodgman, design by John Verryt and costumes by fashion icon Trelise Cooper.
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra premiere a major new work by John Psathas, New Zeibekiko, inspired by the music and dance of Greece, featuring Manos Achalinotopoulos (clarino and voice) and Vagelis Karypis (percussion, oud and voice). The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra presents two special Festival concerts. A Symphonic Odyssey is a programme of masterpieces, inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s extraordinary 1968 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, including Also Sprach Zarathustra and Atmospheres. The NZSO Family Concert, part of Auckland Arts Festival Family Day, is a selection of out-of-this-world pieces, including the title themes from Star Wars and ET.
A feature of the 2011 Festival is the strong Asian music programme, a classically influenced line-up that spans India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, China, and weaves in music from Europe and New Zealand. Contributors include the New Zealand String Quartet, virtuoso pianist Xiang Zou, acclaimed Indian classical musician Rajendra Prasanna, the wonderful New Purple Forbidden City Orchestra from China, and composers Jack Body, Chinary Ung, Gillian Whitehead, and Him Sophy, who premiere a new work O Cambodia. Inspired by the country’s tumultuous history, O Cambodia features NZTrio and skilled Cambodian traditional instrument players.
Music is central to many of the Festival’s special events. Master jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette’s Jack Johnson: Soundtrack to a Legend, and Live Live Cinema: Carnival of Souls, from Leon Radojkovic and Oliver Driver, both take cult cinema and bring it to life with live musical accompaniment. Must-see shows for lovers of world music include The Manganiyar Seduction, and the Vietnamese Water Puppets.
The Pacific Crystal Palace Spiegeltent, housed in the Festival Garden, hosts a programme of cabaret and contemporary music, including Smoke & Mirrors, the all-new show from the producers of 2007 and 2009 sell-out sensation La Clique, and a brilliant mash-up of David Bowie and ukulele music from New York’s legendary cabaret-drag-performance artist extraordinaire, Taylor Mac. The Festival Garden will also feature a programme of daily free music, on the outdoor TV3 stage.
Ihimaera is performed at the Auckland Town Hall, 3 March 8pm & at the Genesis Energy Theatre, 4-5 March, 8pm
Martha Wainwright performs at the Auckland Town Hall, 9 March, 9pm
Paul Kelly A-Z is performed at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, 16-19 March, 9.15pm
Handel with Care is performed at the Auckland Town Hall, 4 March, 7.30pm
Timeless is performed at the Auckland Town Hall, 8 March, 7.30pm
Xerxes is performed at the Civic Theatre, 2-3 March, 7.30pm, 5 March, 7.30pm, 6 March, 5pm
New Zeibekiko is performed at the Auckland Town Hall, 18 March, 7.30pm
A Symphonic Odyssey is performed at the Auckland Town Hall, 12 March, 8pm
O Cambodia is performed at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, 17 March, 7pm
Chinese Aura: A Special Concert is performed at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, 18 March, 7pm
Piano Recital: Xiang Zou is performed at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, 6 March, 7pm
Spirit of India 2011, Shehnai & Flute is performed at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, 15 March, 7pm
Bright Light and Cloud Shadows: Sounds of Asia is performed at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, 19 March, 7pm
Jack DeJohnette's Jack Johnson: Soundtrack to a Legend is performed at the ASB Theatre, 5 March, 8pm
Live Live Cinema: Carnival of Souls is performed at the Mercury Theatre, 4-5 March, 8pm and at the Civic Theatre, 20 March, 7pm
The Manganiyar Seduction is performed at the Civic Theatre, 10-12 March, 7.30pm
The Vietnamese Water Puppets perform in the Garden Theatre in the Festival Garden, 2-20 March at various times
Smoke & Mirrors is performed in the Pacific Crystal Palace Spiegeltent, 2-19 March, various times
Th Ziggy Stardust Meets Tiny Tim Songbook is performed in the Pacific Crystal Palace Spiegeltent, 7 March 7.30pm, 8-10 March 9.30pm
For performance details please visit www.aucklandfestival.co.nz
Emma Willis | Assistant Publicist
Auckland Festival Trust |Level 1, 108 Quay Street, Auckland |PO BOX 3787, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140, New Zealand
|Phone: +64 9 374 0331 |Fax: +64 9 309 0176|Website: www.aucklandfestival.co.nz
Member Profile
Auckland Arts FestivalThe 2013 Auckland Arts Festival (6-24 March) will be Auckland's sixth Arts Festival, a biennial event that has become a firmly established part of the Australasian and International arts and cultural calendar. The Festival will again present outstanding work from many of New Zealand's foremost artists, and international work never before seen in this country, across theatre, music, dance and the visual arts. There is also an array of free events for the whole family to enjoy .
Over the past five festivals, the Auckland Arts Festival has built a reputation for presenting top quality work from around the world, which would otherwise not be seen in Auckland. Highlights include the marvellous 2011 Smoke and Mirrors cabaret show and the unique Manganiyar Seduction from the deserts of India. 2007 display from pyrotechnic artists Group F, the 2009 theatrical masterworks by Japanese company Ishinha, and the legendary Robert Lepage's company Ex Machina, sell-out cabaret sensations La Clique in both 2007 and 2009, and many more.
Join us on Facebook or visit www.aucklandfestival.co.nz for the up and coming 2013 festival announcements.
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