infonews.co.nz
INDEX
MUSIC

Timeless music for Friday at 5.15 concert

Tuesday 21 August 2012, 12:18PM

By Massey University

373 views

New Zealand String Quartet members from top  to bottom, Rolf Gjelsten, Douglas Beilman,  Helene Pohl and Gillian Ansell
New Zealand String Quartet members from top to bottom, Rolf Gjelsten, Douglas Beilman, Helene Pohl and Gillian Ansell Credit: Massey University

WELLINGTON CITY

New Zealand School of Music’s Friday at 5.15 concert this week will be one with a difference – an inside perspective of the Beethoven string quartets from the New Zealand String Quartet.

The quartet – Helene Pohl and Douglas Beilman (violins); Gillian Ansell (viola); and Rolf Gjelsten (cello) – are Artists in Residence at Te Kōkī, New Zealand School of Music. They are about to set out on the final stage of a New Zealand-wide project to perform all 13 of Ludwig van Beethoven’s string quartets this year. In this one-hour presentation they will give audiences an inside view of Beethoven’s late string quartets, from a performer’s perspective.

“We will illuminate events in Beethoven's personal life surrounding the composition of his string quartets interspersing quotes from his letters and contemporary sources with selected movements from his quartets, “ Ms Pohl says.

“By giving context to the drama of the music, we hope the audience will appreciate the greatness of Beethoven's writing, and the place of the string quartet in his output, moving from his early works in the Opus 18 set to the final great late quartets.”

The free event will be a rare opportunity to gain insight into Beethoven’s personal journey, enhancing the musical experience and understanding for the audience, Ms Pohl says.

Inside Beethoven is one of the School of Music’s Friday at 5:15 series – a set of free one-hour concerts in the Ilott Theatre at Wellington Town Hall in which staff and colleagues showcase their talents and expertise in the Wellington CBD. This is the third in the series for 2012, with further concerts scheduled for September 14 and October 26.

Inside Beethoven – Friday August 24 at 5:15pm, Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall