Having performed their Songs for Folks programme for the Greytown Music Group last year, Bethany Angus and Geneviève Gates-Panneton are back this year with a new programme, now joined by soprano Barbara Graham and cellist Ken Ichinose.
Bethany and Geneviève met in The Hague, where they both completed their Masters in early music. Since returning to New Zealand, they have collaborated on a number of projects, performing both Baroque and Romantic music. Bethany has played both cello and harpsichord with the NZSO and Orchestra Wellington and will be the Wellington Youth Choir’s accompanying pianist this year. Ken is the associate principal cellist of the NZSO, and is a Greytown Music Group regular, having played last year with his Ghost trio and the Elouan quartet. Having studied at the Schola Cantorum in Paris after being a Resident Artist with the New Zealand opera, Barbara now performs regularly throughout New Zealand. She will be making her Greytown debut!
As repertoire for this combination of musicians is scarce, the ensemble will be making and performing their own arrangements, including six Schubert lieder arranged for two sopranos, piano, and cello. As it turns out, Schubert’s simple yet exquisite melodies and clever harmonic language lend themselves perfectly to adding another voice and a cello to the mix! The programme will also include two pastoral duets by Haydn, as well as a lively arrangement for two voices of Brahm’s Hungarian Dances by Pauline Viardot. As an instrumental interlude, Ken and Bethany will play three pieces for cello and piano by Nadia Boulanger.
As repertoire for this combination of musicians is scarce, the ensemble will be making and performing their own arrangements, including six Schubert lieder arranged for two sopranos, piano, and cello.
To complete the programme, the ensemble will perform three folksongs from Geneviève’s native Quebec, which she has arranged. Bethany will trade in the piano for a cello, joining Ken to give the songs all the vocal warmth the cello provides so well.
Soprano, cello and piano concert: 4pm on Sunday 12 April at 57 Wood St Greytown. Admission $30, children $10. For bookings contact Ed and Juliet Cooke, 06 304 9497 or efjacooke@gmail.com
