Articulate: the arts week ahead

Art Auction

Art + Object
Important Photographs and Contemporary Art.
August 7th

The Art + Object auction next month features a selection of New Zealand photography by Ben Cauchi, Peter Peryer, Anne Noble, Michael Parekowhai, Ava Seymour, Laurence Aberhart, Ann Shelton and Yvonne Todd. The Art section of the catalogue includes major works by Colin McCahon, Grahame Sydney, Judy Millar, Guy Ngan, Rick Killeen and Pat Hanly.

Included is an untitled portrait by Peter Stichbury expected to sell for $25,000 - $30,000, a major Ralph Hotere “Port Chalmers Painting ($120,000 - $130,000), a large (3.5 metre) Judy Millar work Barbeque Plaid ($40,000 - $50,000), Grahame Sydney’s Evening at Ben Ohau ($85,000 - $125,000) and a McCahon Small Waterfall ($38,000 - $50,000)

There are a series of photographs by Peter Peryer including Erika, Winter ($8000 - $12,000), and Self Portrait with Rooster ($7000 - $10,000). Among the Laurence Aberhart works is “The Heavens Declare $6500 - $8500 while Fiona Pardington’s photos include a couple of her recycled nudes ($1200- $2000) and her Visa Gold Award winner, Taniwha ($3000 - $5000).

Music CD

Der Ring Des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner
Asher Fisch, State Opera of South Australia
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Catalogue Number: MR301133-4

Coinciding with the touring concert performance of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s production of Die Walkure, Melba Recording have released a CD package of highlights from Der Ring Des Nibelungen

This is a version recorded by the State Opera of South Australia in 2004 of the first Australian production of Wagner's monumental four part "Der Ring Des Nibelungen" and was made possible by the Australian Federal Government’s $5m grant to the Melba Foundation.

The Adelaide Ring production was a seminal event for opera in Australia, bringing together Elke Neidhardt's riveting direction, Michael Scott-Mitchell's breathtaking sets, the contribution of the Adelaide Symphony conducted by Asher Fish and some of the finest Australian voices and international guest artists for a once in a lifetime festival event. One German critic said: “This recording does away with the idea that Wagner can only really be performed in Europe.”

The recording features several New Zealanders including the later Christopher Doig, Richard Greagor and Zan McKendree-Wright.

The two and a half hour selection includes the usual highlights such as The Ride of the Valkyries and Siegfrieds' Funeral March along with some magnificent singing by Lisa Gasteen's as Brünnhilde, John Bröckeler as Wotan and Chris Doig as Loge singing with Bröckeler.

Literature

Gold by Chris Cleave
Hodder and Stoughton
RRP $39.99

Coinciding with the Olympic Games is the novel Gold by Chris Cleave which tells of the pressure on athletes and the competition and hte conflicts between them.

Zoe and Kate have been competitive bike riders since their teens and they have become great friends as well as great rivals. The book is set mainly in the months leading up to the London Olympics of 2012 but it also traces their history through the Athens and Beijing Games as well as mapping out their early lives.

Drawing them together as well as creating tensions between them is Kate’s husband Jack (also an Olympic rider) and their daughter Sophie who is suffering from leukemia.

Sophie’s condition puts additional pressure on Kate who has to be mother, wife and career as well as Olympic gold hopeful.

Zoe, the poster girl for Perrier is driven by absolute determination to win even if it means having to use underhand tactics to undermine Kate psychologically.

Interwoven is the secret life of Sophie which revolves around Star Wars, providing a contrasting children’s perspective on obsession and self centeredness.

Occasionally the writing is a bit over enthusiastic, a bit like sports reporters and commentators but the book races along nicely with some well developed story lines as well as insights into the world of the committed athlete.

Music

Mnozil Brass
St James Theatre, Wellington
Sunday 23 September

Aotea Centre, Auckland
Monday 24 September

The brass band often comes in for unmerited criticism as being just lots of loud music. Even the great conductor Sir Thomas Beecham famously said that “brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away”.

However the touring Austrian Mnozil Brass has been entertaining audiences with their unique blend of musical ability, theatrics and originality – and they’re heading to New Zealand for concerts in Auckland and in Wellington where they will be part of the inaugural New Zealand Brass Festival.

A recent review noted that “It’s impossible to try and musically categorize Mnozil Brass. They are truly unique. However, there is one thing that their legions of fans all agree on: Once you have seen the zany Austrians live, you will never forget them”

Formed 20 years ago in Josef Mnozil’s small tavern in Vienna, , this ensemble of seven ‘insanely cool’ brass players has been wowing audiences around the world with the sheer variety and diversity of its performances. Mnozil Brass has performed around Europe, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, at the Salzburg Festival and in the United States, Canada, Taiwan and Japan.

Mnozil Brass plays brass music for people from all walks of life and more than once, the band has been referred to as the “Monty Pythons of Music” yet each of the ensemble members is a world-class musician performing in the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Art Orchestra. In Mnozil Brass, the seven virtuoso players traverse a bewildering variety of musical styles and genres, from the classical to the modern, producing a sound that can replicate anything from a full-scale brass band to the tenderness of a string quartet.

“It is my fervent belief that Mnozil Brass is the greatest brass ensemble in the world today. Mnozil Brass is quite simply the most amazing thing to ever happen in the history of chamber music!“ Jens Lindemann