Aotango Quintet
Thursday 07 May 2026 at 7.00pm
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Fenton St
'A Century of Tango' takes audiences on a musical journey through the evolution of tango, from beloved classics like El Choclo, Por una Cabeza, and La Cumparsita to the
revolutionary nuevo tango compositions of Argentinian maestro Ástor Piazzolla.
In Partnership With
Performers:
Andrew Beer Violin
Lorelle McNaughton Piano
Gordon Hill Double bass
Sam Swindells Guitar
Grayson Masefield Accordion
Dolfin-Lin Duo
Friday 21 August 2026 at 7.00pm
St Luke's Church, 1223 Amohia St
This programme is approximately 115 minutes including a 20-minute interval. Chinese-New Zealand pianist Tony Chen Lin returns home from his Budapest base with Hungarian cellist Balázs Dolfin. Trained in Hungary and Germany, this dynamic duo present a diverse and fascinating programme that includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms, Zoltán Kodály and Belá Bartók, Gao Ping and Nathanael Dejong (New Zealand).
In Partnership With
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Performers:
Balázs Dolfin Cello
Tony Chen Lin Piano
John Rae - Celtic Roots
Thursday 01 October at 7.00pm
St Luke's Church, 1223 Amohia St
Award-winning musician and composer John Rae blends music from his Scottish heritage with contemporary jazz, including acoustic renditions of pieces like Robert Burns’ Banks and Braes (named “track of the year” by RNZ Concert’s Nick Tipping) and original compositions by Rae
In Partnership With
Performers:
John Rae Drums
Jack Harris Double Bass
Ben Wilcock Piano
Oscar Lavën Saxophone
Swing 42
Thursday 22 October 2026 at 7.00pm
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Fenton St
Ōtautahi Christchurch-based Swing 42 performs gypsy swing, also known as jazz manouche. A musical idiom inspired by the Romani jazz guitarist Jean “Django” Reinhardt in conjunction with French jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli, it reached the zenith of its popularity immediately before and after the Second World War before being replaced by Bebop.
In Partnership With
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Performers:
Reuben Derrick Clarinet / Saxophone
Keith Petch Manouche Jazz Guitar
Michael Kime Double Bass
Doug Brush Percussion
NZ Trio 'Reverie'
Thursday 3 December 2026 at 7.00pm
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Fenton St
Reverie opens with a mesmerizing, atmospheric work that gently rocks between dream and reality - Hanna Kulenty’s A Cradle Song - before entering a state of Romantic fervour with Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 3, brimming with lyrical expression. Adam Schoenberg’s Las Estrellas highlights shimmering textures and celestial inspiration, while new commission Icarus on Titan from Karlo Margetič offers a fresh and distinctive New Zealand perspective.
Finally, Leonard Bernstein’s youthful Piano Trio provides a taste of his early brilliance and quirky personality, foreshadowing the irrepressible energy of his later Broadway compositions.
Performers:
Amalia Hall Violin
Matthias Balzat Cello
Somi Kim Piano
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