Between Shores: A Journey Through Time and Sound
Gioachino Rossini – Il Signor Bruschino Overture
Rossini’s sparkling overture to his one-act comic opera Il Signor Bruschino (1813) is full of wit and invention. Playful melodies, sudden shifts in character, and clever orchestral effects—including the unconventional tapping of violin bows on music stands—capture the mischievous spirit of the opera’s farcical plot. Though the opera itself is rarely performed today, the overture has remained a concert favourite for its charm and humour.
Fun fact: At its premiere, the audience was so startled by the bow-tapping that they burst into laughter, unsure if it was a mistake or a joke!
Anthony Young - Kuaka (World Premiere)
Kuaka is the Māori name for the Bar-tailed Godwit, the little bird that migrates between New Zealand and Alaska every year. Kuaka flock in great numbers before making the journey, and some birds fly over 10,000km without stopping. For how many millennia have these birds been making this journey, and how did it evolve? I wonder if each little bird knows of its undertaking, and if they are aware of the perils they face.
While poetic inspiration for Kuaka is drawn from watching the birds, which can be seen around Auckland from late spring to early autumn, formal inspiration is taken from Ralph Hotere's Godwit/Kuaka, a large mural that was originally installed at Auckland Airport. There are three movements:
1. Gathering
2. Interlude
3. Departing
Felix Mendelssohn – Concerto for Two Pianos in E major (NZ Premiere)
Composed in 1823 when Mendelssohn was just 14, this concerto reveals the astonishing talent of a young genius. Written for performance with his sister Fanny, it brims with energy, lyricism, and virtuosity. The outer movements sparkle with youthful brilliance and intricate dialogue between the two soloists, while the slow movement offers a glimpse of Mendelssohn’s gift for tenderness and melodic beauty.
Fun fact: Mendelssohn and Fanny gave the first performance together—Mendelssohn later revised the concerto, but still dedicated it to his sister as a celebration of their musical partnership.
Artists
Duo Enharmonics
Beth Chen and Nicole Chao, two of New Zealand’s celebrated pianists, perform together as Duo Enharmonics—an ensemble acclaimed for its expressive depth, technical brilliance, and musical cohesion. With extensive experience as performers, they have appeared together and as soloists in leading venues across Aotearoa, as well as in Germany and the United Kingdom. Over the past seven years, their many national tours—including those presented by Chamber Music New Zealand—have taken them to major concert stages and regional centres throughout the country. They are also regularly invited to perform at festivals around New Zealand where a classical reviewer highlighted their performances for their “unanimity of feeling and technical mastery,” and another reviewer described them as “an ongoing treasure to be cherished and deeply valued.”
Renowned for their collaborative spirit, Duo Enharmonics regularly perform with members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington, and the New Zealand String Quartet. Together, they have worked on a wide range of programmes—from family concerts such as Carnival of the Animals to performances premiering new works by New Zealand composers—demonstrating both their artistic versatility and commitment to broadening audience engagement. Between them, they have earned top prizes in major competitions, including the National Concerto Competition (New Zealand) and the North Queensland Piano and Instrumental Concerto Competition (Australia). Their performances have been broadcast by Radio New Zealand, where they’ve also been interviewed about their work and musical approach.
Both pianists are deeply committed to fostering the next generation of musicians. Beth is an Artist Teacher at the New Zealand School of Music, Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington, while Nicole serves as a mentor and adjudicator for Chamber Music New Zealand. Upcoming performances include a programme of major two-piano works presented by Christopher’s Classics at The Piano in Christchurch.
Composer-in-Residence: Anthony Young
After graduating with a Masters in composition in 2004, Anthony Young has had works commissioned and performed by a range of ensembles, including the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Tapestry New Opera Works (Toronto), OperaUpClose (London), the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, and Peach Theatre Co., plus a range of community ensembles throughout New Zealand. He has taught at high schools around Auckland for a number of years, teaching composition, arrangement and theory. In 2023, he completed a Doctorate of Music at the University of Auckland.
Elizabeth Lau
Elizabeth Lau is the Founder and Creative Director of Wairua Sinfonietta, a non-profit orchestra uniting emerging and professional musicians to perform for global charitable causes. In 2024, she also founded the Wairua Youth Sinfonietta, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of orchestral players.
A graduate of the University of Auckland, Elizabeth was the first to complete a Master of Music in both Choral and Orchestral Conducting, alongside studies in composition, collaborative piano, and double bass. Her mentors include Dr Rae de Lisle, Honorary Associate Professor Dr Karen Grylls ONZM, Emeritus Professor Uwe Grodd, , and the late Maestro Eliano Mattiozzi Petralia.
Elizabeth has conducted internationally and worked with ensembles including the Auckland Philharmonia, Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Piper Sinfonia, Mozart Orchestra, and Auckland Choral. She is currently Deputy Music Director of Bach Musica and part of the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy artistic team.
Through Wairua Sinfonietta, Elizabeth combines artistic leadership with community impact, presenting concerts that inspire and support charitable initiatives worldwide.
Outside of music, Elizabeth is passionate about cultural exploration, art galleries, and creative expression through painting and photography.
Musicians
Violin 1
1 Harris Leung**
2 Jean-Baptiste Jossa
3 Nancy Chen
4 Skyla MacDonald
5 Bridie Pirie
6 Joy Xu
Violin 2
1 Olga Homenko*
2 Martin Qiang
3 Rosanna Houthusesen
4 Lyndsay McDonald
Viola
1 Aeneas Bernardi*
2 Derek Chan
3 Dora Tsao
4 Mei Fong Edgar
Cello
1 Natarani Witten-Hannah*
2 Nina Gaste
3 Tilly Harvey
4 Jonathan Chang
Bass
1 Mike Steer*
Flute
1 Annie Hong*
Oboes
1 Joy Liu*
2 Yu Lee
Clarinets
1 Matt Baker*
2 Tracy Ma
Bassoons
1 Jonathan Lau*
2 Jasmine Pavey
Horns
1 Tom Chester*
2 Jimmy Zhang
Trumpets
1 Stephen Bemelman*
2 Jeremy Strang
Timpani
1 Mary Lewis*
** Concertmaster
* Section Leader
Special Thanks
Special Thanks
This concert could not have come to life without the generosity, care, and dedication of our wonderful volunteers—musicians, and the many onsite and behind-the-scenes teams. Each of you has played a special part in making this evening memorable for both our performers and our audience. Our heartfelt thanks to:
St Matthew-in-the-City Event Manager – Dmitry Rusakov and staff
Stage Manager – Stephen Bemelman
Stage Assistants – Richard Lui, Danny Sun
Front of House Assistants – Olivia Lai, Kitty Ling, Phoebe Wong, Josephine Yim
Event Support Team – Tracey Ma, Alison MacDonald, Ann Wong
Website and Poster Design – Sarah Healey
Your time, energy, and kindness have helped weave together the many threads that make this concert possible. We are truly grateful.
This music is as much yours as it is ours - thank you for being part of our journey.