Takapuna Concert Offers After-Work Sanctuary

St George’s Church in Takapuna plays host to some of New Zealand’s leading musicians on 28 April, when members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra perform the first of this year’s Sanctuary Series concerts.

The three Sanctuary Series concerts, which include a glass of wine in the ticket price, all take place at 6.30pm and are billed as an ‘after-work haven in your neighbourhood’. They offer a rare chance to see world class artists in an intimate setting.

The St George’s performance features woodwind and brass players in a range of works representative of the wind repertoire, including Ibert’s lively Trois Pieces Breve and, appropriately given the church venue, Nielsen’s carol-like Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon.

The concert is something of a homecoming for APO Principal Flute Catherine Bowie. One of New Zealand’s most celebrated musicians, Catherine’s profession has taken her around the world and she lived for many years in France. However, she was born and raised in Takapuna, and still considers herself a Shore girl.

That dedication to her home town has found its way into the music, which includes Composition 2 by John Rimmer.

“For this concert I really wanted to play a piece of music that had local significance,” Catherine says. “John lived in this part of Auckland for many years; I played my first John Rimmer piece when I was about seven because I had recorder lessons with his wife Helen.”

The idea to perform in St George’s Church was Catherine’s too – the venue is just around the corner from her parents’ house.

“There’s something special about performing in churches,” she says. “At St George’s we’ll be sitting very close to the audience; it’s not like we’re on a raised stage in the distance. And in churches there’s an aura of reverence that relates to them being places of worship. That almost hushed quality has nothing to do with acoustics, it’s a feeling you get, a sense that something special is unfolding.

“Hopefully, with the programme we’ve put together, the audience will get that feeling too.”

Who: Catherine Bowie and other members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra woodwind and brass sections

What: Sanctuary Series concert featuring works by Ibert, Nielsen, Rimmer and Hindemith

Where: St George’s Church, 2 The Terrace, Takapuna

When: Thursday 28 April, 6.30pm

Bookings: Phone 623 1052 or visit www.apo.co.nz

More: www.apo.co.nz/2011_concerts/sanctuary_series/woodwind.aspx

Catherine Bowie

Born in Takapuna, Auckland, Catherine first became known when, at the age of 15, she played the Ibert Flute Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in the Young Musicians’ Competition.

New Zealand couldn’t keep her – she moved to Paris and lived there from 1987 to 2002. First, she won a place at the Paris Conservatoire, studying in the class of Michel Debost then Pierre-Yves Artaud and was awarded two Premier Prix: Flute and Chamber Music. She earned the Kranichsteiner Musik Preis from the Darmstadt Summer Course for New Music, Germany in 1992, and four years later was a prizewinner in the Rotterdam Gaudeamus Competition.

Catherine performed widely with orchestras throughout France, namely the Paris based Ensemble Court-Circuit, for which she was Principal Flute from 1991-2002. This award-winning ensemble toured extensively, recorded CDs and was invited to many international festivals all over Europe. During her time in France, Catherine returned regularly to New Zealand to perform concertos (with the APO in 2000) and play as a touring chamber musician.  

Catherine has various interests and doesn’t get bored easily. She likes languages, belly dancing, cooking and reading books.

Sanctuary Series:

The Sanctuary series is a programme of concerts performed in your neighbourhood by APO ensembles. Each ensemble is led by an APO Principal, who also selects the music. The first concert is led by Section Principal Flute Catherine Bowie. The second concert in the series, for strings, is held on 4 August at St Michael’s Parish, Remuera and led by APO Concertmaster Dimitri Atanassov. The final concert employs members of the APO’s brass section, led by Section Principal Horn Nicola Baker, and takes place at All Saints Church, Howick, on 31 August.