Aroha String Quartet

Buckle up and travel around the globe with the Aroha String Quartet.     We’ll have stopovers to sample the music of seven different countries on five continents - Europe, Asia, South America, North America and Zealandia!     We begin our journey in Austria with a sunny, sparkling piece by the father of the string quartet, Josef Haydn.     We then travel overland to Russia for Shostakovich’s Elegy & Polka and backtrack to Spain for Turina’s evocative Bullfighter’s Prayer.     Exhausted by all that travelling, we take a break back in New Zealand with the lovely Toccatina by Ross Carey.     After interval we fly to China for an arrangement of the famous folk song Er Quan Ying Yue composed by blind erhu player A Bing. This music depicts the moon reflecting on the Er Quan spring.    In Eastern Europe we then make a stop in for some selections from Miniatures by Georgian composer Sulkhan Tsintsadze.     After interval we fly to China for an arrangement of the famous folk song Er Quan Ying Yue composed by blind erhu player A Bing.     This music depicts the moon reflecting on the Er Quan spring. In Eastern Europe we then make a stop in for some selections from Miniatures by Georgian composer Sulkhan Tsintsadze.     No world tour would be complete without a visit to South America, so we end our trip in Argentina with Tango Ballet by tango-master Astor Piazzolla.     As your tour guides we’ll make sure to introduce you to the pieces and the composers. Join us for an exciting musical journey! As your tour guides we’ll make sure to introduce you to the pieces and the composers. Join us for an exciting musical journey!    

Programme 

  Haydn - String Quartet in E-flat Op 64 No 6   Shostakovich - Elegy & Polka   Turina - Bullfighter’s Prayer   Ross Carey - Toccohina    Interval    A Bing - Er Quan Ying Yue (Reflections of the Moon)   Tsintsadze - Miniatures  Piazzolla - Tango Ballet      

About 

Acclaimed as demonstrating "accomplished brilliance, soulfulness and sublime intensity in perfect balance and tonal unity" (The Dominion Post), the Aroha String Quartet is firmly established as one of New Zealand's finest chamber music ensembles.    Founded in 2004, this versatile Wellington-based quartet is known for its passionate musicality, impressive technique, and multicultural innovation.    Haihong Liu and Zhongxian Jin are original members of the Aroha Quartet. Robert Ibell joined the group in 2009 and Konstanze Artmann in late 2018.    The Aroha Quartet is committed to presenting string quartet works from western classical and avant-garde repertoire to traditional Chinese folk music, as well as works for larger forces through collaborations with numerous high-profile musicians.