Our 2021 Festival

The Festival was due to be held from 17 to 19 September, but Covid-19 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.

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.

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.

Monique Lapins and Wilma Smith (violins)
Monique Lapins and Wilma Smith (violins)
The advertising board showing the 2021 ‘dark sky’ logo
The advertising board showing the 2021 ‘dark sky’ logo
Bridget Douglas playing her flute
Bridget Douglas (flute)
The 2021 musicians and organisers, left to right standing: Brendan Smyth (Festival Director), Alexandra Partridge (cello), Marion Townend, Zephyr Wills (viola), Michael Houstoun (piano), Vicki Jones (Artistic Director), Wilma Smith (Artistic Director and violin), Ed Allen, Andrew Morrison. Front: Sharon Cuzens, Winifred Bull, Gillian Ansell (viola), Monique Lapins (violin), Bridget Douglas (flute)

The 2021 Music and Musicians

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