Brodsky Quartet team up with didgeridoo virtuoso

Didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton, with the Brodsky Quartet, from left, Krysia Osostowicz, Ian Belton, Paul Cassidy and Jacqueline Thomas. Picture supplied

The pairing of didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton with the musicians of the Brodsky Quartet is a sensational combination and a first for New Zealand audiences.

They will play at the War Memorial Theatre on March 14.

The programme unites icons of the classical canon with Barton’s own music, along with the New Zealand premiere of Andrew Ford’s quartet written during the bushfires of late 2019.

Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe resonates alongside New Zealand’s Salina Fisher, with Janáček and Stravinsky keeping the energy and excitement of this remarkable programme high from start to finish.

William Barton is Australia’s most celebrated didgeridoo virtuoso. The sounds that he creates from this apparently simple, elemental instrument are quite extraordinary; his performances generate awe, even disbelief, in his listeners.

Barton’s didgeridoo playing has earned him the honour of performing with prestigious orchestras that include the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle.

With 50 years of music- making to their credit, Britain’s Brodsky Quartet are phenomenal collaborators and have crossed paths with other artists such as Elvis Costello, Björk and Dawn Upshaw. The Brodskys — who have for a long time been enthusiastic advocates of Sculthorpe’s quartets — fulfilled their long-time wish to perform with William Barton through several collaborations in recent years.

Barton will also share his musical knowledge and insights with local students and communities in a workshop on the day of the concert,

with around 130 students taking part.