Amici Ensemble concert in Greytown.
The Amici Ensemble will return to Greytown give a concert performance at 4pm on Sunday 12 July at 57 Wood Street. The member of the Ensemble vary according to the programme but this year they are Donald Armstrong, violin, in his usual position of leader, Andrew Thompson, viola, Andrew Joyce, Cello, and on Piano, Jian Liu.
The concert programme is Mozart Piano Quartet No 2 in E Flat major, Penderecki String Trio and Faure Piano Quartet No1 in C Minor Op15.
This will be the first opportunity for Wairarapa people to hear Jian Liu playing, without having to travel over the Rimutakas.
Jian began his piano studies at the age of 6 , in Qinglao ( home of Tsindao beer), moving to Beijing at the age of 9 to study at the Central Conservatory of Music. By the time he was 12 he was dazzling audiences with his amazing piano skills. Winning an International Piano competition in Missouri was followed by a move to the USA, funded by an American Professor. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano and a Bachelor of Science in Business at Arizona State University, followed by Masters and Doctoral degrees from the Yale School of Music.
After several years of performing on concert stages around the world and lecturing at Yale, Jian applied for and was appointed as Head of Piano Studies at Victoria University. It had been his dream to come to New Zealand where ” there is more freedom, and the countryside is beautiful.” He is happy that he and his family are now living here.
Donald Armstong is the Associate Concertmaster of the NZSO, Andrew Thompson principal second violin, and Andrew Joyce the principal cello. They all enjoy playing chamber music as a change from their regular orchestral activities. Donald says he is always on the lookout for the ” wild, wacky, and wonderful” in music so there may be some of that on 12th July. However, do not let the name Penderecki put you off attending this concert! The String Trio will provide the “jam” in the concert sandwich, a piece for strings alone. It is not one of Penderecki’s atonal pieces but comes just after his Romantic period, so while there may be a touch of the earlier composition style, this Trio has been described as dramatic and lyrical.
Admission $25 Adults and $10 students. Bookings are advisable as the house full sign is often up for Amici concerts! Phone 06 3049 497 (home) or 06 3049 025 ( office) to book.
