World-renowned New Zealand String Quartet to perform in concert at Carleton

October 24, 2018
By Kou Okada '22

The world-renowned New Zealand String Quartet will perform in concert on Friday, November 2 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Kracum Performance Hall of Weitz Center for Creativity at Carleton College.

The program will feature Carleton music professor and pianist Nicola Melville, a native of New Zealand, and performances of Mozart’s “Quartet in G Major,” Gareth Farr's “Te-Tai-O-Rehua,” and Shostakovich’s “Piano Quintet, Op. 57.”

Known for its imaginative programming and for its powerful connection with audiences of all kinds, the New Zealand String Quartet has established an international reputation for its insightful interpretations, compelling communication, and dynamic performing style.

The group's extensive discography includes all the quartets by Mendelssohn, Bartok, and Berg; numerous New Zealand compositions; works by Ravel, Debussy, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, and Wolf; and the premiere recording of the remarkable Zoltan Szekely quartet. Their 2011 album, Notes from a Journey – a collection of works by New Zealand composers­ – won 'Classical Recording of the Year' at the New Zealand Music Awards. Currently the quartet is working on all of Brahms’ string quartets as well as his string and clarinet quintets.

The members of the New Zealand String Quartet are Helene Pohl (first violin), Monique Lapins (second violin), Gillian Ansell (viola), and Rolf Gjelsten (cello). The quartet is sponsored by Creative New Zealand, The New Zealand School of Music, The Adam Foundation, The Turnovsky Endowment Trust, Nelson Pine Industries, and Cloudy Bay. For more information, visit their website.

This performance is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Carleton College Department of Music. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4475. The Weitz Center for Creativity is located at Third and College Streets in Northfield.