Can you have too many clarinets in one piece? The answer is no, especially if you’re a clarinettist playing Osvaldo Golijov’s ‘The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind’.
A feature of the Grand Opening Concert on Friday 30 January will be David Griffiths performance of Golijov’s popular piece where he’ll be joined by the New Zealand String Quartet. The Golijov features 5 different clarinets and with its compelling mix of classical technique and Latin/Jewish ardour, will surely have feet tapping.
David Griffiths, who as you can see is jumping for joy at the opportunity, is joining us from Australia.
We’re so grateful that David and our other international performers are prepared to travel to our remote, but delightful corner of the world.
Other works on the Opening Night programme are the Saint-Saens Fantasy for violin and harp featuring Ayano Ninomiya and Helen Webby, Martin Lodge Aria with Commentary for two cellos featuring David Ying and Rolf Gjelsten, Bela Kovacs Hommage to J S Bach featuring the solo clarinet of David Griffiths and finally the Schumann Quartet in F Major, opus 44/2 featuring our wonderful international guests the Ying Quartet.
You can read all about David Griffiths and our other guests here