We had a happy and busy Festival with all the concerts sold out or close to full. The word seems to be spreading and we welcomed people from around New Zealand and overseas. The fabulous and adventurous programme was, once again, performed by musicians with passion and amazing virtuosity.

Friendship was bit of theme in this year’s programme with several works written for, or inspired by friendships between composers and musicians. And there was also a distinct Finnish influence in our artists and repertoire. This inspired the colours and logo for the 2024 Festival, which was based on the northern lights.

We also believe 3­, possibly 4, of the works were New Zealand premieres: Bacewicz, Adès, Kuusisto and Sibelius.

Community outreach

Our community programme reached nearly 1,000 students from Wairarapa schools, as well as, for the first time, offering a day-long workshop for young string players from the Wairarapa Youth Orchestra. We also welcomed Jenny McLeod's biographer, Norm Meehan to Martinborough in August to give the annual Medici Lecture ahead of hearing her work Clouds in the Festival.

We welcomed Mike Armour to the Trust as our new treasurer.

Friday 27 September at 7.30pm

Carl Maria von Weber (1786–1826) Clarinet Quintet in B-flat major Op.34
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) Piano Sonata No.23 Op.57 in F minor ‘Appassionata’
Arnold Schoenberg (1874–1951) Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) Op.4

Saturday 28 September at 2pm

Béla Bartók (1881–1945) Contrasts for violin, clarinet and piano SZ.111
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909–1969) Piano Quintet No.1
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op.115

Saturday 28 September at 7.30pm

Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) Malinconia Op. 20
Thomas Adès (1971–) Alchymia
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) Piano Trio B-flat Op.99

Sunday 29 September at 2pm

Jenny McLeod (1941–2022) Clouds
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano K498 ‘Kegelstatt’
Jaakko Kuusisto (1974–2022) Play II Op.16
Ernő Dohnányi (1877–1960) String Sextet in B-flat major W080

The musicians

Paavali Jumppanen, piano
David Griffiths, clarinet
Harry Bennetts, violin
Donald Armstrong, violin
Wilma Smith, violin
Christopher Moore, viola
Gillian Ansell, viola
Timo-Veikko Valve, cello
Svetlana Bogosavljevic, cello

What distinguished this Festival from previous offerings was that wind instruments — the bassoon and the oboe — featured prominently, with New Zealand-born, Sydney-resident, Todd Gibson-Cornish playing in all 4 concerts and NZSO Principal Oboe, Robert Orr playing in 2.

Here's what our Artistic Directors, Wilma Smith and newly appointed Donald Armstrong, said about the 2023 Festival: ‘We are very excited about this year's programme which, in addition to the luscious line-up of strings and piano you’ve come to expect, features two amazing double-reed superstars. One is probably well-known to most of you, NZSO’s magnificent Principal Oboe, Robert Orr, and the other is Todd Gibson-Cornish, a young Kiwi making his mark across the ditch as Principal Bassoon of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a hotly-contested position he won in 2016 at the ripe old age of 21.’

The 2023 Festival was, by every measure, another resounding success. Fabulous music, nearly full houses, record fundraising support from the community and generous donors, and we came out of it all with a prudent surplus so that we could do it all again in 2024.

We had a gentler take on the celebratory logo with a blush of sage, nectarine, apricot and rose and a hint of wispy wind to reflect the year’s programme focus on the oboe and the bassoon.

In a first for the Festival, our 2023 concerts were recorded by RNZ Concert for subsequent national broadcast. They are still available via the RNZ website.

Martinborough Music Festival 2023 | RNZ

The work commissioned for our fifth anniversary 2022 Festival from Wellington composer, Tabea Squire was released in December 2023 to cap off our multi-media year! RNZ Concert and SOUNZ recorded and filmed the work as part of their Resound project.

Tabea Squire: Behind the stars, a dark sky | Youtube

In 2023 we also farewelled our former Artistic Director, VIcki Jones, our Festival Director Brendan Smyth and Chair of the Trust Board, Ed Allen. They left the Festival in good heart and capable hands. Sharon Cuzens took over as Festival Director, and Rosie Brown and Scilla Askew joined the Trust.

Friday 22 September 7.30pm

Edward Elgar (1857–1934) Romance for bassoon in D Minor, Op.62
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1893–1943) Sonata for cello and piano in G Minor, Op.19
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) ‘Souvenir de Florence’ for string sextet, Op.70

Saturday 23 September 2pm

Jean Françaix (1912–1997) Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano
Salina Fisher (1993–) Mata-Au for string trio
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370
Robert Schumann (1810–1856) Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op.44

Saturday 23 September 7.30pm

Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano
Manuel de Falla (1876–1946) arr. Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962) Danza Española (La Vida Breve)
Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805) String Quintet in E major, G.275
Charles Loeffler (1861–1935) Two Rhapsodies for oboe, viola and piano
Wynton Marsalis (1961–) Meeelaan for bassoon and string quartet

Sunday 24 September 2pm

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, K.478
Anthony Ritchie (1960–) Farewell for bassoon and string quartet, Op.219 (World premiere)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) String Quintet No.2 in G major, Op.111

The musicians

Robert Orr, oboe
Todd Gibson-Cornish, bassoon
Laurence Matheson, piano
Benjamin Baker, violin
Donald Armstrong, violin
Wilma Smith, violin
Wenhong Luo, viola
Amanda Verner, viola
Matthias Balzat, cello
Ashley Brown, cello

Salina Fisher, composer
Anthony Ritchie, composer

For our fifth full Festival in 6 years (after the cancelled 2020 Festival) we planned to do something special.

We presented 5 concerts instead of the usual 4, and commissioned Wellington composer Tabea Squire to write a piano quintet to mark the occasion. Tabea’s quintet, Behind The Stars, A Dark Sky, was a nod to Martinborough’s bid to be declared a dark sky sanctuary. This was premiered on the Saturday afternoon and was recorded and filmed on the Monday after the Festival by RNZ Concert and SOUNZ for broadcast on air and online.

We also commissioned a celebratory take on the logo, taking its cue from the ancient Hindu Holi Festival which, among other things, marks the arrival of spring.

We heard 15 wonderful artists across the 3 days, including New York-based New Zealand lyric bass, Paul Whelan and 2 of this country's legendary pianists, Diedre Irons and Michael Houstoun, in concert together for the first time in the Wairarapa.

Local teenage piano prodigy Benjamin Carter joined Australians Harry Bennetts and Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba (violins), Christopher Moore (viola) and Phoebe Russell (double bass).

The New Zealand team were Wilma Smith and Virtuoso Strings alumnus, Toloa Faraimo (violins), Gillian Ansell (viola) and Matthias Balzat (cello) who returned from Düsseldorf for the Festival. They were joined by Douglas Mews (harpsichord), Michael Austin (oboe) and Damien Eckersley (double bass).

It was a fabulous fifth Festival. ‘The best yet … !’ said one of our loyal patrons in our annual audience survey. Highlights included Michael and Diedre’s stunning duo recital on Friday night, the Bottesini Gran Duo Concertante on Sunday morning given a stellar performance by Phoebe Russell and Harry Bennetts, and also the Shostakovich Piano Trio on the Saturday afternoon with the extraordinary 17-year old Wellington College student, Benjamin Carter.

Community outreach

We also expanded our schools programme, presenting 6 concerts to students from 11 Wairarapa schools — double the number of concerts and nearly 4 times the number of schools compared to our inaugural year. The concerts were presented by students from the New Zealand School of Music at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington. We toured a brass quintet and a string quartet with music from Vivaldi, Mozart and Shostakovich through to John Williams’ movie music and a bit of rap featuring a volunteer from the primary school audience!

Friday 23 September 7.30pm

Schubert Fantasia in F minor, D.940
Bizet Jeux d’enfants, Op.22
Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K.448
Rachmaninoff Suite No 1 in G minor, Op.5 Barcarolle
Lutoslawski Variations on a Theme by Paganini

Saturday 24 September 2pm

Shostakovich Piano Trio No 2 in E minor, Op.67
Tabea Squire Behind the stars, a dark sky (world premiere)
Dvořák Piano Quintet No 2 in A major, Op.81

Saturday 24 September 7.30pm

Johann Sebastian Bach Ich habe genug, BWV 82
Imogen Holst Phantasy Quartet
Franz Schubert An die Musik
Richard Strauss String Sextet from Capriccio, Op.85
Brahms Vier ernste Gesänge Op.121

Sunday 25 September 11.00am

Bottesini Gran Duo Concertante Mendelssohn Piano Sextet in D major, Op.110
Nadia Boulanger Trois Pièces for cello and piano
Bruch String Octet in B flat major

Sunday 25 September 3pm

Grieg Holberg Suite, Op.40
Samuel Barber Dover Beach
Aaron Copland At the River
Richard Strauss Metamorphosen for string septet
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major, BWV 1048

The Musicians

Paul Whelan, bass baritone
Diedre Irons, piano
Michael Houstounm piano
Benjamin Carter, piano and cello
Harry Bennetts, violin
Wilma Smith, violin
Toloa Faraimo, violin
Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba, violin and viola
Christopher Moore, viola
Gillian Ansell, viola
Matthias Balzat, cello
Phoebe Russell, double bass

The Festival was due to be held from 17 to 19 September, but lockdowns in Australia meant several of our featured artists were unable to make it. Further changes had to be made when New Zealand started moving between lockdown levels.

In 2021, our logo took its cue from the campaign to declare the Wairarapa a dark sky reserve — a swirl of purples, blues and silver with a bit of milky way in the middle.

New Festival dates, 29–31 October, and a revised line-up of artists meant we could go ahead and included Michael Houstoun who was persuaded out of retirement, and Andrew Joyce, principal cello of the NZSO.

We were delighted to be able to produce another stunning weekend of chamber music.

Friday 17 September 7.30pm

Ethel Smyth Trio in D Minor for violin, cello and piano
Igor Stravinsky Suite Italienne for cello and piano
Ludwig van Beethoven String Quintet in C minor, Opus 104

Saturday 18 September 2.00pm

Robert Schumann Adagio and Allegro for cello and piano, Opus 70 Franz Schubert Introduction and Variations for flute and piano, D802
Heitor Villa-Lobos Assobio a Jato for flute and cello
Joseph Haydn London Trio No 1 in C major
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sestetto Concertante, K364

Saturday 18 September 7.30pm

Jenny McLeod ‘Airs For The Winged Isle’
Felix Mendelssohn String Quintet No 2 in B flat major, Opus 87
Johannes Brahms String Sextet in G major, Opus 36

Sunday 19 September 2.00pm

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Flute Quartet in D Major, K285
Amy Beach Theme and Variations for flute and string quartet, Opus 80
Johannes Brahms Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor, Opus 25

The musicians

Laurence Matheson, piano
Bridget Douglas, flute
Wilma Smith, violin
Monique Lapins, violin
Christopher Moore, viola
Gillian Ansell, viola
Timo-Veikko Valve, cello
Matthias Balzat, cello

The 2020 festival became a Covid casualty. We held out as long as we could but at the end of June — with 5 of our 8 musicians stuck overseas— we had to pull the plug.

Instead we organised 2 replacement concerts held on Sunday 4 October. The 2 different, but equally alluring, programmes featured the wonderful pianist Diedre Irons.

Joining Diedre for these 2 concert treats were some of New Zealand’s finest resident string players —Monique Lapins and Vesa-Matti Leppänen (violins), Nicholas Hancox and Gillian Ansell (violas) and Andrew Joyce and Ken Ichinose (cellos).

The concerts were, again, a triumph. One of the audience posted on Facebook, ‘… multiple shivers down my spine’. ‘Stylish, passionate and thrilling chamber music,’ posted another.

Outreach in 2020

Every year, the Martinborough Music Festival organises schools visits as part of our community outreach programme.

In 2020, we brought together a group of string players from the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington who visited Martinborough School, Kuranui College in Greytown and Wairarapa College in Masterton on 19 October to introduce the pupils to chamber and classical music in an engaging and interactive way.

Sunday 4 October 11am

Ernő Dohnányi Serenade in C major, Op. 10 (1902)
Sergei Rachmaninoff Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor (1892)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence Op. 70 (1890)

Sunday 4 October 5pm

Antonín Dvořák Terzetto in C Op. 74 (1887)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Quintet in G minor, K. 516, (1787)
Johannes Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34, (1864)

The musicians

Diedre Irons, piano
Monique Lapins, violin
Vesa-Matti Leppänen, violin
Nicholas Hancox, viola
Gillian Ansell, viola
Andrew Joyce, cello
Ken Ichinose, cello

The 2019 Festival from 27 to 29 September was organised by local Martinborough music enthusiasts Edward Allen (Chair), Andrew Morrison, Brendan Smyth, Marion Townend, Murray Pashby, Sharon Cuzens and Winifred Bull with artistic direction by Vicki Jones and Wilma Smith.

Michael Houstoun returned for the 2019 Festival, this time with Jenny Wollerman (soprano), Wilma Smith, Vesa-Matti Leppänen and Yuka Eguchi (violins), Christopher Moore (viola) and Matthias Balzat and Ken Ichinose (cellos). They were joined by Amy Brookman and Alan Molina (violins) for a performance of the magnificent Mendelssohn Octet at the final Sunday afternoon concert.

Critic Lindis Taylor described it in Middle C as, ‘A festival of chamber music made in heaven.’

Friday 27 September 7.30pm

Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757) Sonata in A, K.24 Presto; Sonata in F minor, K.481 Andante e cantabile; Sonata in E, K.380 Andante commodo; Sonata in A minor, K.175 Allegro
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) Cello Sonata in G minor, op. 65,(1845–1846)
Ludwig van Beethoven Brahms (1770–1827) Piano Trio in B flat major, Op 97, ‘Archduke’

Saturday 28 September 2pm

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Viola Sonata No 2 in E flat major, Op 120
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Piano Trio No 3 in C minor, Op 101
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) Piano Quartet No 1 in C Minor, Op 15

Saturday 28 September 7.30pm

Benjamin Britten Not even summer yet
Claude Debussy L’Ombre des arbres and C’est l’extase from Ariettes Oubliées
Sergei Rachmaninov Lilacs Op. 21 No. 5
Gabriel Fauré Mandoline Op. 58 No. 1
Sergei Prokofiev Solntse komnatu and Pamyat’o sontse from Op. 27 on poems by Anna Akhmatova
Sergei Prokofiev Prelude in C major Op. 12 No.7, ‘Harp Prelude’
Samuel Barber O Boundless, Boundless Evening Op. 45 No. 3
Gabriel Fauré Clair de lune Op. 46 No. 2
Claude Debussy Recueillement from Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire
Gabriel Fauré En Sourdine Op. 58 No. 2
Sergei Rachmaninov Notshu f’sadu Op. 38 No. 1
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) String Quintet in C major (1828)

Sunday 28 September 2pm

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Theme and Variations, Op 18b
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) String Sextet No. 1 in B flat Major, Op. 18
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Octet in E flat major, Op. 20

The musicians

Michael Houstoun, piano
Jenny Wollerman, soprano
Wilma Smith, violin
Vesa-Matti Leppänen, violin
Yuka Eguchi, violin
Christopher Moore, viola
Mattias Balzat, cello
Ken Ichinose, cello
Amy Brookman, violin
Alan Molina, violin

The 2018 Festival from 28 to 30 September was an even bigger success, with another group of exceptional musicians — Diedre Irons (piano), Wilma Smith and Amalia Hall (violins), Christopher Moore (viola), Matthias Balzat (cello) and clarinet virtuoso Mark Walton.

We enjoyed magic music and full houses. The programme was, in the words of Mark Walton, ’heavenly.’

Friday 28 September 7.30pm

Beethoven Cello Sonata in C Major César Franck Violin Sonata in A major
Brahms Piano Trio No 1 in B major, Op 8

Saturday 29 September 2pm

Beethoven String Trio in C minor
Gareth Farr String Quartet No 2 ‘Mondo Rondo’
Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op 115

Saturday 29 September 7.30pm

Schubert Quartettsatz, D 703
Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K 581
Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op 44

Sunday 30 September 2.00pm

Bach Cello Suite No 3 in C major
Darius Milhaud Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano, Op 157b
Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor, Op 60

The musicians

Diedre Irons, piano
Mark Walton, clarinet
Wilma Smith, violin
Amalia Hall, violin
Christopher Moore, viola
Matthias Balzat, cello

The inaugural Martinborough Music Festival held over the weekend of 29 September to 1 October was an artistic, critical and audience success.

The Festival headliner was the celebrated concert pianist, Michael Houstoun, who gave a solo recital on the Friday night and on the Saturday played with the Zephyr Wind Quintet and the Martinborough Festival Quartet, both featuring leading NZSO players. On the Sunday, the string and wind players combined to deliver the great Schubert Octet.

According to the Wairarapa Times-Age, the concerts featured ‘top-shelf playing from some of New Zealand's finest’ and the Festival had ‘a lovely vibe’.

Friday 29 September 7pm

Piano recital by Michael Houstoun

A selection of preludes and fugues from Book One of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-tempered Clavier interspersed with two Gymnopédies and a Gnossienne by Erik Satie.
Franz Schubert Sonata in G

Saturday 30 September 2pm

Anton Reicha Wind Quintet in E flat major
Ken Wilson Wind Quintet
Jacques Ibert Trois Pièces Brèves
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Quintet in E flat major

Saturday 30 September 7pm

Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No 11 in F minor
Johannes Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor

Sunday 1 October 2pm

Franz Schubert Triosatz in B flat major
Franz Schubert Octet in F major

The musicians

Michael Houstoun, piano
Bridget Douglas, flute
Robert Orr, oboe
Rachel Vernon, clarinet
Patrick Barry, clarinet
Robert Weeks, bassoon
Ed Allen, horn
Yuka Eguchi, violin
Andrew Thomson, violin
Julia Joyce, viola
Sophia Acheson, viola
Andrew Joyce, cello
Ken Ichinose, cello
Joan Peranau Garriga, double bass