With the magical sound of bird-song, Gareth Farr takes us to where music begins in his vivid rendering of spring in New Zealand. Mozart’s richly expressive Clarinet Quintet intimately mingles sorrow and comfort, while Beethoven discovers new joy in the thrilling, limitless invention of his ‘Harp’ Quartet.

Gareth FARR | Te Kōanga (2017) 

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN | String Quartet in E flat op.74 'Harp' (1809)

Wolfgang MOZART | Clarinet Quintet K581 (1789)

David Griffiths, clarinet; Dene Olding, violin; Dimity Hall, violin; Irina Morozova, viola; and Julian Smiles, cello

The string quartet has proved the most durable and expressive of chamber ensembles capable of extreme refinement and gripping drama. After the titanic struggles of the Razumovsky Quartets, Beethoven returned to a radiant classicism in his exquisite ‘Harp’ Quartet, a work full of formal clarity and lyricism, as well as showing his limitless capacity for magical variations. 
Composed by New Zealand’s internationally esteemed Gareth Farr in memory of luthier Ian Lyons,  Te Kōanga explores a fascinating gamut of sound, from birdsong to dance to elegy and, finally, consolation. 
Mozart crowned his chamber music legacy by adding his favourite wind instrument to the string quartet. Anton Stadler, fellow Mason and clarinettist for whom Mozart would write his greatest woodwind concerto, had a custom-built instrument of increased range capable of great agility. With the clarinet’s almost vocal quality and Mozart’s mastery of string texture, the work explores and mingles emotions of joy and melancholy before an optimistic close. 

Single Tickets
Prices Adult $56 | Senior $43 | Concession $34 (All tickets are subject to booking fees.)

Tickets for individual concerts can be purchased via the link below or by phoning the box office (Wed-Fri) on 02 9385 4874. On sale from Monday February 12, 2024.

Book tickets here.

Membership Booking [4-Concert Package]
Prices Adult $175 | Senior $131 | Concession $105  (All tickets are subject to booking fees.)

General public bookings closed on 29 January, 2024 for processing and distribution.

For all membership purchases after this date, please email your request to australia.ensemble@unsw.edu.au