‘Every year I am reminded of just how extraordinary this Festival is. The quality and consistency of the whole presentation is possibly unique.’
This feedback from a delighted concertgoer sums up how much the Martinborough Music Festival means to those who attend. Each September, musicians from around the world come to Martinborough to present a programme of four chamber music concerts over three days.
“We are extraordinarily fortunate to have musicians of the calibre of Wilma Smith and Donald Armstrong as our Artistic Directors,” says Festival trustee Sharon Cuzens.
“Their knowledge and contacts mean we can present enticing programmes of chamber works, both traditional and contemporary, played by top NZ and international artists.”
Works featuring saxophonist Simon Brew were a bold – and popular – part of this year’s line-up, alongside more ‘traditional’ chamber music. The excitement at the performance and comments in the post-Festival audience survey showed that his solo work – “Beat It”w by Australian composer Bary Cockcroft – was a winner with the audience.
The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Argentine composer Piazzolla was another audience favourite, with soloists Simon and violinist Yuri Zhislin backed by a string quintet. The encore, Oblivion, also by Piazzolla, brought the Festival to an emotional close with a standing ovation.
Sunday afternoon’s concert was a highlight, with the premiere of shifting worlds by composer Louise Webster, commissioned by the Festival. In a pre-concert talk, Louise spoke with Wilma and Donald about exploring her links with early Wairarapa settlers and creating a sound world combining fragments from their life in the Scottish highlands with material from the new world they had come to. “We established the Festival Commissioning Circle this year to ensure we can commission, perform and record a new work for each Festival,” says Sharon.
“Supporting New Zealand composers is an important role for a Festival such as ours.
It’s an exciting and valuable legacy to leave.”
The key legacy of the Festival is the joy it brings to audiences, expressed in survey responses:
‘The joy of listening to chamber music with a whole lot of other people enjoying chamber music.’
‘The programme this year was brilliant, and I loved seeing the wonderful musicians clearly happy to be performing with each other.’
Next year is the Festival’s 10 th anniversary and plans are underway for special events marking the occasion.
“It’s a huge effort for the trustees to plan and bring about the Festival each year,” says Sharon. “But we love the excitement of the concerts, the real buzz from the audiences and the relationships we build with musicians and concertgoers alike.
“And feedback such as this from another survey respondent makes it all worthwhile:
‘Just a huge heartfelt thank you for the heart and soul and sheer hard work that goes into the Festival. It’s a jewel for Martinborough and a highlight of my year.’ ”
