FQ IN NZ

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 11 in F minor Op. 95

DEBORAH CHEETHAM FRAILLON “Bungaree”*

ANTONIN DVORAK Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major Op. 81 (with Michael Houstoun, piano)

* Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Andrew Dixon, in memory of Jean and John Dixon

Saturday 28 June, 7pm • THE PIANO, CHRISTCHURCH BOOKINGS

Sunday 29 June, 2.30pm • WAIKANAE MUSIC SOCIETY BOOKINGS

Tuesday 1 July, 7.30pm • CONCERT CHAMBER, AUCKLAND TOWN HALL tickets on sale soon

Wednesday 2 July, 7pm • WESLEY CHURCH, TAURANGA BOOKINGS

Thursday 3 July • 7.30pm METHODIST CHURCH, NEW PLYMOUTH tickets on sale soon

Friday 4 July • WHANGANUI WAR MEMORIAL HALL BOOKINGS

Saturday 5 July • GLOBE THEATRE, PALMERSTON NORTH tickets on sale soon

Sunday 6 July, 3pm • WELLINGTON CHAMBER MUSIC BOOKINGS

“I’m thrilled that Flinders Quartet’s first ever concert tour to New Zealand will include a collaboration with my long-time friend and musical partner, Michael Houstoun. We’ll be bringing you a programme of beloved masterpieces and the NZ premiere of a work by eminent Aboriginal composer/singer, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, especially written for Flinders Quartet. I look forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones around the country.”

WILMA SMITH, VIOLIN

MICHAEL HOUSTOUN • piano

Michael Houstoun was born in Timaru, New Zealand in October 1952. He began piano lessons at the age of five and under the guidance of Sr Mary Eulalie and subsequently Maurice Till he moved through the grades of the Trinity College of London examination system (ATCL 96%, LTCL 97%). At the same time he won all the major piano competitions in NZ and began playing with orchestras. 

In 1973 at the age of twenty he entered and placed third in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This led to a year of study with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. 
In 1975 he placed fourth in the Leeds International Piano Competition and then in 1982 sixth in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

After living overseas for six years -  including a valuable period of study with Brigitte Wild in London - he returned home in 1981 where he has enjoyed his life as something of an 'Artist in ResideNZ', performing recitals, concertos and chamber music all over the country year in year out. 

Most years he performs one or two new programs and consequently has built a very large repertoire spanning from J S Bach to the present day. Included are many compositions by NZ composers and quite a few commissions.

Houstoun has twice presented the complete Beethoven sonatas in seven-concert cycles. More recently he has performed the 48 Preludes and Fugues of Bach's 'Well-tempered Klavier' in two-concert events.

Since 1999 he has recorded for Rattle Records (rattle.co.nz) with five of his albums winning Classical Record of the Year awards.

He has honorary degrees from Massey and Victoria universities, is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and a Laureate of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

He is Advocate of Chamber Music New Zealand, and Patron of The NZ Institute of Registered Music Teachers, the NZ Music Examinations Board, the Kerikeri International Piano Competition and the Nelson School of Music.