‘Superb’ music treats Midday Concert goers

Taupō Concert Band and Dance Central perform during the recent Taupō Winter Festival. Dance will be a theme again at the September Midday Concert. Photo: Deborah Jarvis

Taupō music lovers had a rare treat on Friday when the New Zealand String Quartet performed at the monthly lunchtime concert at St Andrews.  

Reviewed by Elizabeth Tomasek 

The programme, designed to be readily approachable, consisted of a collection of works by Henry Purcell, Anthony Ritchie, Fanny Mendelssohn (the elder sister of the more famous Felix), Benjamin Britten, Antonin Dvorak, and three folk dances from the Danish String Quartet.  

Although a purist might bemoan the fact that there were no complete chamber works, the music presented was very engaging, had great variety and was superbly played. The stand-out works for this listener were the Fantasia by Purcell, reminiscent of Dido’s Lament, the ever-popular Dvorak ‘American’ quartet, and the Danish Folk Dances. 

The New Zealand String Quartet performs the Midday Concert at St Andrews on Friday last week.  Photo:Deborah Jarvis

The members of the quartet, violinist Peter Clark, violist Gillian Ansell, cellist Martin Smith and guest violinist Peter-Andreas Nielsen from Denmark, created a very friendly rapport with their listeners, taking turns to introduce each of the works. 

The large audience were very appreciative. Hopefully we will not have to wait another six years to hear the NZ String Quartet here again. 

The Friday, September 4 concert will be a midevening performance at 7pm with the Taupō Concert Band presenting a “well-stamped passport of dance pieces from around the world." 

The concert at St Andrew’s Anglican Church is $10 adults, children $5, cash only (no eftpos facility).  

Included in the entry price is an interval offering of a light supper and cup of tea or coffee.