Music charms after battle of Biennale

Skill and enthusiasm is guaranteed at a concert by the NZSQ. From left: Gillian Ansell, Helen Pohl, Douglas Bellman and Rolf Gjelsten.

Elizabeth Kerr had the unenviable task last year, as chief executive of Creative New Zealand, of battling the philistines who disapproved of our country's participation in the Venice Biennale. No more. Kerr has taken over as general manager of the New Zealand String Quartet.

"The change was a bit of a heart thing, moving back to my roots in music. I think they are fantastic, with their commitment to music and the way their knowledge about the music comes through."

The NZSQ's Magical Mozart tour, which ends in Auckland this weekend, is going well. There have been full houses in Wellington and Napier, but then, as Kerr says, "They are great communicators. I've been watching them pulling audiences into the music with their enthusiasm."

The decision to do Mozart's six Haydn Quartets was a fabulous choice, Kerr says. "These were written without a commission, with a lot of time and care, specially as a homage to Haydn. Mozart had heard Haydn's Opus 33 and was very impressed. There is such a variety of expression ... we have found audiences coming to both concerts so they can hear them all."

Kerr's enthusiasm for Peter Nagy, who joins the NZSQ for a piano quartet in each programme, knows no bounds.

"I've only heard him play Mozart and I am blown away," she says. "I am keen to hear what it is about the Hungarian pianist's music-making that is so appealing.

"He has a very sophisticated technique, so much so that you're not aware of his technique at all."

Apart from this weekend's concerts there are other things to look forward to. Next month, Atoll Records will produce an album of two Mozart quartets from the tour, which Kerr describes as "a sort of live performance CD".

* New Zealand String Quartet, Magical Mozart, at Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, Sat 7.30pm, Sun 3pm