Bede Hanley & Stephen De Pledge: Sunday Concert Series
Sunday 18 August, 6pm
Tickets: $35 / $20 (concession)
Concession prices available for students and over-65s
In its ongoing commitment to support and provide opportunities for live performance, The Arts House Trust is proud to present the Sunday Concert Series 2024 - an eclectic array of musicians and musical genres showcasing local performers.
This month we bring you a colourful programme filled with poetry and fireworks. These stimulating recital pieces explore the expressive range of the oboe and piano duo.
Featuring works from American Mark Biggam's Little Italy Sketches, Canadian Jean Coulthard's Shizen and Frenchman Benjamin Godard's Scotch Scene — take us on exotic trips to Italy, Japan and Scotland.
Star Canadian composer Kevin Lau's Garden of Endless Sleep is modern, poignant and atmospheric. Gardens; Morning, Noon and Night will be played in memory of its composer, Peter Schikele, who passed away last year. Finally, Antal Doráti's Duo Concertante is a flashy affair, full of Hungarian folk music and virtuosity.
No familiar composers here but trust us, this programme will delight!
PROGRAMME
Benjamin Godard, Légende Pastoral from Scotch Scenes
Kevin Lau, In the Garden of Endless Sleep
Mark Biggam, Suite from Little Italy Sketches
1. Morning Scenes
2. Tarantella
3. Lullaby
Intermission
Jean Coulthard, Shizen
1. Wind in the Pines
2. Meditation Garden
3. The Temple Festival
Peter Schickele, Gardens
1. Morning
2. Noon
3. Night
Antal Doráti, Duo Concertante
1. Libero, rubatissimo
2. Molto vivace
THE PERFORMERS
New Zealand pianist Stephen De Pledge has given recitals with many musicians, including Dame Felicity Lott, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Viktoria Mullova, Raphael Wallfisch, Alan Hacker and Rivka Golani, and given chamber performances with the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet, Chamber Domaine and the Scottish Ensemble.
His extensive discography includes works by Bliss, Barber, Messiaen, Shostakovich, Brahms, Mussorgsky and Prokofiev. He takes a particular interest in contemporary music and has worked with many composers, making world-premiere recordings for Arvo Pärt, Henryk Gorecki and Ned Rorem. In addition to his performing schedule Stephen De Pledge is Head of Piano at the School of Music, University of Auckland.
Bede Hanley began learning the oboe at nine, eventually earning his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ohio.
Following several seasons with Spain’s Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia in La Coruña, Mr Hanley, admired for his "gorgeous tone and buoyant phrasing", first joined the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra as Section Principal Oboe for the 2008 and 2009 Seasons. He was then appointed Principal Oboe of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Canada, a position he held for four years, before rejoining the APO in 2013.
Mr Hanley's playing has garnered press plaudits at home and abroad. John Daly-Peoples of the New Zealand Arts Review wrote “Bede Hanley gave a thrilling performance. (His) oboe danced through the orchestra, his playing effortlessly ranging over the playful, lyrical and soulful, at times providing intense shards of light and extraordinary riffs. In his long faultless solo he managed to span the full range of the instrument, both musically and emotionally.”
Bede has taught oboe in North and South America, Europe, and Australasia and now is a busy private teacher and music coach in the Auckland community.