Having spent last weekend at the Martinborough Music Festival, these are my Top 10 fairly random impressions. But first, a disclaimer. I am not a musician or a music reviewer, but I have been to all six festivals.
1. The festival was sheer enjoyment: from the audience’s enthusiastic applause and excited chatter during intervals, to the obvious interaction and pleasure players took in making wonderful music together. Communication between players is so clear in a small festival group like this, and it was great watching the interactions and supportive smiles between players. Maybe that little nod and or a smile meant they had successfully completed a complicated part of the music? The overall sense was one of co-operation, fun and friendship, as well as sheer professional skills.
2. 10 musicians were involved (in order of appearance, as most played several times): Todd Gibbs-Cornish (Bassoon), Laurence Matheson (Piano), Benjamin Baker, Wilma Smith and Donald Armstrong (Violin), Wenhong Luo, Amanda Verner (Viola), Matthias Balzat and Ashley Brown (Cello) and Robert Orr (Oboe).
3. By an extremely unscientific measure, I give pianist Laurence Matheson my personal award for ‘hardest working’ player. Playing the beautiful Schimmel piano at the rear of the stage he seemed to appear in more works than anyone else.
4. A total of 15 mostly classical music pieces were played, from well-known ‘names’ like Elgar, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky to the less well-known Jean Françaix and Charles Loeffler plus the addition of modern jazz trumpeter/composer Wynton Marsalis meant the audience reveled in the variety.
5. Proving that not all classical music is centuries old, two very special pieces were introduced personally by their composers: Salina Fisher’s Mata-Au (for string trio) and the premier of Anthony Ritchie’s Farewell Op 219, for bassoon and string quartet. This was written for and played by Todd Gibson-Cornish – a wonderful and unique musical moment.
6. Even amateurs can choose favourites. Seeing cellist Matthias Balzart again was a treat – he debuted at the first festival, held in St Andrews Church Hall. Sitting in the front row of that small venue, directly in front of the very young cellist, his talent was clear to see and hear. It turned out we were sitting next to his parents (bursting with pride) before leaving New Zealand the next day to study in Dusseldorf. He is endearingly loyal to the festival, returning whenever possible within an increasingly busy international career.
7. Over the years many ‘Festival regulars’ have established their own little traditions: the annual dinner at local restaurants with friends from Wellington, quick lunches snatched between morning and afternoon session, family from Auckland staying. I sat beside a Christchurch group of three couples who have made the festival a four year annual treat – hiring a house and exploring the district’s wine, food and scenery for a long weekend away, with music.
8. Clearly, bringing people to Martinborough and the South Wairarapa has spin-off benefits to accommodation suppliers, food, wine and shopping outlets. Both the new Nara Café and Karahui Restaurant, for example, were full on all three nights. It all helps a small village.
9. The Martinborough Town Hall is ideally suited to this event. The stage was set at the western (Texas Street) end of the Town Hall, with seating at floor level and banked seating rising high to the back wall. The audience had good sight lines and – most importantly – the sound was warm and clear. All available space was well used, with the library foyer and Supper Room for interval breaks, plus outside spaces as the warm weather was good for participants to mingle outside during the interval, often with refreshments generously sponsored by Grava Wines. With some judicious eavesdropping it was clear everyone was thoroughly enjoying the event.
10. Vicki Jones was the festival’s founding co-artistic director and has now stepped down from the role. NZSO Associate Concertmaster Violinist Donald Armstrong has joined the team.
Final acknowledgement must go to the organising Trust members. Ed Allan has taken the role. Ed says, “We want to make the Martinborough Music Festival the best little chamber music festival in New Zealand. The huge commitment from each of the Trust’s members results in a musical event the entire community is proud to be involved with.” I strongly second that.
