March 2020, when the first COVID lockdown hit, will surely have a permanent place in NZ history. For the next two years the country faced ongoing lockdowns and other pandemic-related changes to our daily lives. The impact for sectors like the performing arts was sometimes catastrophic.
Facing this storm was the Martinborough Music Festival. Just a baby really, having been launched only three years before but from the beginning showing it was something special. Cherry Van Kranen’s gift to the community of her grand piano made it possible to invite keynote artists such as Michael Houstoun and Deidre Irons to play here.
The incredible personal connections of Artistic Directors Vicki Jones and Wilma Smith meant access to the brightest musical talent. Audiences and critics were highly complimentary and the musicians loved Martinborough and the reception they received here.
Not initially daunted by the challenges thrown up by COVID the organisers continued to plan the 2020 event. Little did they know that the next few years would require a steely nerve, the ability to respond to sudden change, and an unfaltering confidence in the future of the event.
Sadly, the 2020 Festival was cancelled, with more than half the performers stuck overseas. Down but not out, two substitute concerts were quickly arranged. 2021 really tested the organisers. They lost their planned dates, a quarter of their audience, one pianist, two cellos and three violas. The limits on gathering numbers threatened the Festival’s financial viability. It would have been easy to cancel but they didn’t.
Imagine the relief when, just in time, COVID rules changed and they could deliver a fabulous scanned-in, masked-up, socially distanced fourth Festival. After that, producing the 2022 Festival must have seemed a breeze despite having more performers, more concerts (three sold out), nearly 1000 tickets sold, a new work commissioned and an enhanced outreach programme.
The Festival prides itself on introducing emerging artists. For many the chance to hear these players at the start of their careers is a highlight. The Outreach Programme now covers 700 students at 11 Wairarapa schools. It aims to imbue a love of classical music in young people and provides graduates from the NZ School of Music a chance to interact with this unique audience. One of the Medici Lectures is now also dedicated to a musical theme.
The Festival’s stated ambition is “to make the Martinborough Music Festival the best little chamber music festival in New Zealand.” After five successful Festivals it’s become a must-do on many music lovers’ calendar and a favourite playing opportunity for the performers. There’s real magic happening. The smiles in the photo taken after the latest Festival capture the joie de vivre that has become a hallmark of the event.
One person who isn’t here to enjoy it is the inimitable Ian Cresswell who originally mooted a classical music festival to twin with Jazz in Martinborough. He would be delighted with the result.
MMF Trust: Chair, Ed Allen MNZM; Deputy Chair, Brendan Smyth MNZM; Secretary Marion Townend; Board members; Winifred Bull, Sharon Cuzens and Andrew Morrison.
