1919 links two of this concert’s works with Rebecca Clarke’s sumptuous viola sonata and Arnold Bax's elegiac quintet for harp and strings both written in that same year. Between these two works, we hear a brand-new festival commission by New Zealand's Claire Cowan.   Clarke – Viola Sonata – Richard O’Neill (viola), Dénes Várjon (piano) […]

All three pieces in the programme were written far from their composers’ place of birth. Dvořák’s ebullient and joyful quintet was written in America, the same year as his symphony ‘From the New World’. For this performance, the New Zealand String Quartet are joined by violist Richard O’Neill from Takács Quartet. The second piece is […]

Bartók's edgy and folk-inspired fourth quartet, probably the most-played of his six quartets, will be sure to mesmerise in the hands of the Takács Quartet. The concert begins with three movements from Bruch's most famous chamber music work, the highly romantic Eight Pieces, performed by James Campbell (clarinet), Gillian Ansell (viola) and Dénes Várjon (piano). […]

Listen to two old friends, cellists András Fejér from the Takács Quartet and Rolf Gjelsten from the New Zealand String Quartet, discuss the early days of the Takács, Hungarian influences in their approach to music, and share stories from past meetings. András is the last original member of Takács, having formed at the Franz Liszt […]

Audiences of Adam Chamber Music Festival know the astounding talent of ‘poet on the piano’ Dénes Várjon. Don’t miss this wonderful chance to hear him performing a programme of Bartók from his Hungarian homeland, as well as Beethoven's beloved Sonata Pathétique, Chopin's monumental Sonata in B Minor, and Listz’ dramatically passionate Sonetto 104 del Petracha. […]

This fascinating and colourful collaboration between New Zealand harpist Helen Webby and Russian/Hungarian violinist Sergey Malov includes duos and solos, loop and delay pedals, New Zealand music, the humorous side of classical music, a world premiere, and the delicious Saint-Saëns’ Fantaisie.   Anthony Ritchie – Whales for violin and harp – Sergey Malov (violin), Helen […]

Come and watch the 2023/24 Adam Troubadours get expert coaching from NZSQ cellist Rolf Gjelsten, assisting them in enhancing their expressivity and bringing the music to life. Free to attend.   Adam Chamber Music Festival

Dénes Várjon and Izabella Simon play one of their favourite two-piano works to open this colourful and highly emotional concert, also featuring star turns from violinist Harumi Rhodes of the Takács Quartet and contrabassist Hiroshi Ikematsu. And finally, we are delighted to present the New Zealand premiere of the Florence Price Piano Quintet, a work […]

Find out more about the music and lives of three festival artists – Russian/Hungarian violinist Sergey Malov, New Zealand harpist Helen Webby and Japanese contrabassist Hiroshi Ikematsu – in conversation with co-artistic director, Gillian Ansell.   Adam Chamber Music Festival

Celebrate Waitangi Day with the world premiere of Jenny McLeod's song cycle Under Southern Skies set to poems by Anne Powell, presented by Jenny Wollerman (soprano), Jian Liu (piano). Harpist Helen Webby performs Helen Fisher's evocative solo work, Otari. Fisher – Otari – Helen Webby (harp) McLeod – Under Southern Skies – Jenny Wollerman (soprano), […]

Come and watch the 2023/24 Adam Troubadours get expert coaching from Takács Quartet first violinist Ed Dusinberre, assisting them in enhancing their expressivity and bringing the music to life. Free to attend.   Adam Chamber Music Festival

We welcome our first work by exciting young American composer, Nokuthula Ngwenyama, of Ndebele and Japanese descent, in a specially commissioned work by the Takács Quartet. Flow is inspired by aspects of the natural world as diverse as starling murmurations, black hole collisions, and Madagascar lemur song and rhythms. The concert opens with Manaaki, a […]