Michael Houstoun & Deidre Irons – Piano Duets

Presented by the Tauranga Arts Festival

Michael Houstoun is New Zealand’s leading classical pianist and a regular favourite at the Festival. Diedre Irons made her first solo appearance with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12. She performs regularly with the NZSO and has presented concerts in 25 countries. She is Senior Lecturer in Piano at the New Zealand School of Music.

They will perform a series of beautiful duets including Poulenc, Mendelssohn and one of the greatest works in the duet repertoire: Bizet’s Jeux d’Enfants (Children’s Games). They will also play a fine new work by Kiwi composer Mike Nock.

Mike Nock’s outstanding musical career may have been based in New York and Sydney but he has never forgotten his New Zealand roots. Southern Suite is his emotional responses to the landscape, to memories and feelings. “I wanted to write a piece of music that would be fun to play, exciting to hear, and convey some sense of the mystery and awe of the Southern Alps.” He's allowed to live in Australia if he writes music like this for us!
This promises to be a knock-out performance.

“Michael Houstoun playing Mike Nock’s compositions touched the sublime ....” Marian Poole. Otago Daily Times

Event listed by SWPR Ltd

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