Period Pieces for
Fortepiano and Cello
Enjoy lively music-making in a candlelit performance of five virtuosic works for fortepiano and cello. Two well-known New Zealand musicians perform a programme of Classical and early Romantic pieces on period instruments, transporting the audience to another place and time.
Douglas Mews – Fortepiano
& Robert Ibell – Cello
Douglas Mews was born in Cheam, Surrey in 1956. He began playing the organ at St Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland, where his father (and first organ teacher) was choir conductor. He studied organ and harpsichord with the late Anthony Jennings at Auckland University, followed by harpsichord studies with Bob van Asperen at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague.
He is now a freelance musician, teaching at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington and directing the music at St Teresa's Catholic Church. In 2010 he recorded a CD on the Wellington Town Hall 1906 Norman and Beard organ for Priory Records’ ‘Great Australasian Organs’. His most recent CD (released in 2012) is 'The Lost Chord', also recorded at the Wellington Town Hall.
Douglas performs on a Broadwood square piano built in 1843. The piano previously belonged to the Tait family who emigrated in the 1870s from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands to live in the Aro Valley, Wellington, where the piano still resides.
Robert Ibell was born in Dannevirke in 1961 and brought up in Palmerston North. While training there as a school teacher he learned cello from Judith Hyatt in Wellington.
From 1986 to 1992 Robert lived in London, studying cello with Tania Hunt, Derek Simpson and Christopher Bunting. He played at music schools and in masterclasses (where his teachers included Alexander Baillie, Steve Doane, Anner Bylsma and Steven Isserlis), taught, gave recitals and played in professional and amateur orchestras.
Since 1993 Robert has been a member of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He is also an experienced chamber musician, touring regularly for Chamber Music New Zealand. Formerly the cellist of the Nevine Quartet, Robert has been a member of the Aroha Quartet since 2009. He also plays in contemporary music group Stroma and is a Recording Artist for Radio NZ Concert.
Robert plays an 18th Century cello by an unknown Italian or German maker, gifted to him by Judith Hyatt. The cello had previously been owned by Greta Ostova, a Czech who escaped the Nazi occupation to arrive in New Zealand in 1940, later becoming a founding member of the National Orchestra (later the NZSO).
Programme
Beethoven – Twelve Variations for Piano & Cello on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” from Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" Op. 66
Mozart – Piano Sonata in C K330
Bréval – Sonata for Piano & Cello in G Op. 12 No 5
Romberg – Grand Sonata in E-flat for Cello & Piano Op. 5 No 2
Beethoven – Sonata for Piano & Cello in F Op. 5 No 1
Dates/Venues
Sunday 26 June, 3:00pm
Taihape
Taihape and District Womens Club, Huia St, Taihape
Door sales only: Adults $25, Members $20, Children Free
Period (early 19th Century) costume optional.
Monday 27 June, 7:30pm
Clevedon
1 Monument Road, Clevedon
Tickets: $40 (including supper) | Bookings essential, call 09 292 9589
Wednesday 29 June, 7:30pm
Auckland
Ponsonby Baptist Church, 43 Jervois Rd, Auckland
Tickets from Eventfinda (service fees may apply) or at the door: Adults $25, Concessions $15, Children (accompanying an adult) $5, Families $50 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Friday 1 July, 7:30pm
Omapere
Copthorne Hotel, Omapere, South Hokianga
Door sales only: $15
Drinks may be purchased from the bar. Hotel restaurant open for meals before the concert.
Saturday 2 July, 4:00pm
Warkworth
Ascension Vineyard, 480 Matakana Rd, Warkworth
Door sales only: $30
Bar open before & during performance for purchase of food and drink.
Sunday 3 July, 4:00pm
Tauranga
Tauranga Park Auditorium, 383 Pyes Pah Rd
Tickets in advance from Tauranga Musica or at the door: $32, Students $10 (free if accompanied by a ticket holder), Music teachers + up to four students $25
Sunday 10 July, 4:00pm
Putaruru
Living Springs Christian Centre, 59 Tirau St
Door sales only: $25, South Waikato Music Society members/CMNZ subscribers $20, Students free
Wednesday 13 July, 7:30pm
Lower Hutt
St Mark’s Church, 58 Woburn Rd, Lower Hutt
Tickets in advance from Eventfinda or at the door: Adults $38, Chamber Music Hutt Valley members $25, Students $10, School-age Child Free
Thursday 14 July, 7:30pm
Palmerston North
Awhina Room, Caccia Birch House, 130 Te Awe Awe St, Palmerston North
Tickets in advance from Eventfinda (service fees may apply) or at the door: Adults $25, Concessions $15, Children (accompanying an adult) $5, Families $50 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Friday 15 July, 7:30pm
Hastings
St Matthew’s Church Hall, 200 King St South, Hastings
Tickets in advance from Eventfinda (service fees may apply) or at the door: Adults $25, Concessions $15, Children (accompanying an adult) $5, Families $50 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Saturday 16 July, 3:00pm
Taupo
Hilton Lake Taupo, 80-100 Napier Rd
Part of the Taupo Winter Festival. Admission price (TBC) includes high tea, to be served from 2:30pm.
Sunday 17 July, 2:30pm
Paekakariki
Memorial Hall, 96 The Parade, Paekakariki
Tickets in advance from Mulled Wine Concerts or at the door: $25, Students (under 14) $10
Saturday 17 September, 7:30pm
Motueka
Chanel Arts Centre, cnr High St & Fearon St, Motueka
Tickets 3 weeks in advance from Floral Affaire, High St, Motueka or at the door: Adults $25, Students $5
Sunday 18 September, 7:30pm
Christchurch
Nut Point Centre, 703 Old West Coast Rd, West Melton
Tickets in advance from Nut Point Centre : $25 (includes light supper)
Monday 19 September, 7:30pm
Ashburton
At Violinos, 629 Methven Highway, Winchmore,
Tickets: Adults $30, Senior Citizens and Students $20, Children $10, Family of four $70
To book, ring 03-307 2010
Tuesday 20 September, 7:30pm
Timaru
Bank St Chapel, 38-40 Bank Street, Timaru
Tickets: Adults $25, concession $15, Children $5, Family Pass $50
To book, ring 03-688 5597
Wednesday 21 September
Dunedin
House concert
Thursday 22 September, 7:30pm
Cromwell
St Andrew’s Anglican Church Hall, cnr Blyth & Donegal Sts, Cromwell
General Admission $40
Tickets available from Cromwell iSite, 2D The Mall, or phone 03-262 7999
Friday 23 September, 7:30pm
Arrowtown
Athenaeum Hall, 33 Buckingham St, Arrowtown
Tickets from Eventfinda (service fees may apply) or at the door: Adults $25, Children $15, Family Pass $50
Sunday 25 September, 3pm
Picton
Picton Little Theatre, 9 Dublin St
Tickets from Take Note (Picton) or Alyssum (Blenheim) Members $27 Adults $30, Children $20. Admission price includes afternoon tea. Proceeds from the concert will go towards the renovation of the Picton Little Theatre.
