Christopher’s Classics Series XXI presents “Michael Houstoun”

Christopher’s Classics Series XXI presents “Michael Houston” on Thursday 21st April 2016, 7.30 p.m. at St Michael and All Angels Church.

Acclaimed pianist, Michael Houstoun needs no introduction to Christchurch audiences.  Born in Timaru, he became interested in the piano as a small child and began lessons at the age of five.  Under the tutelage, first of Sister Mary Eulalie in Timaru, and then the great Maurice Till in Christchurch and Dunedin, Michael moved through the examination grades and by the age of 18 had won every major competition in New Zealand. In 1973, aged 20, he was placed third in the 1973 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, fourth in the Leeds Competition in 1975 and sixth at the Tchaikovsky competition in 1982.

Based in New Zealand since 1981, Michael has enjoyed a distinguished international career and was invited to play in the 2014 Edinburgh Festival programme.  In 2014 he recorded the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, released as a boxed set of 14 CDs, following his performance of these in Chamber Music NZ’s 2013 Recycle Series.  In 2007 he was made a laureate of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

Programme:

Preludes and Fuges from Part 2 of ‘The Well-Tempered Klavier’ – Johann Sebastian Bach

• No. 5 in D major BWV874
• No. 6 in D minor BWV875
• No. 9 in E major BWV 878
• No. 10 in E minor BWV 879
• No. 12 in F minor BWV 881
• No. 17 in A flat major BWV 886

Three Intermezzi, Op. 117 – Johannes Brahms

• No. 1 in E flat – Andante moderato
• No. 2 in B flat minor – Andante non troppo e con molto expressione
• No. 3 in C sharp minor – Andante con moto

Three Novelettes – Francis Poulenc

• No. 1 in C major – Modere sans lenteur
• No. 2 in B flat minor – Tres rapide et rythme
• No. 3 in E minor – Andantino tranquillo

Nocturne in E flat minor. op. 33 No. 1 – Gabriel Faure
Valse-caprice No. 1 in A major, Op. 30 – Gabriel Faure

For more information, contact: Diana Moir (03) 355 2691, 021 126 5738, dhmoir@xtra.co.nz (media) or Nick and Judy Derrick (03) 352 3412, classics@ihug.co.nz (subscriptions).

Door sales and cash only $40.00; full-time students $15.00.  Bring a cushion to soften the pews.  For more information, see www.michaelhoustoun.co.nz