Award-winning musicians Robert Ashworth (viola) and Sarah Watkins (piano) join forces with Auckland Philharmonia principal oboist Bede Hanley to present a dynamic and colourful, virtuosic, evocative and thought-provoking programme, featuring composers Klughardt, Loeffler, Alyssa Morris, and Janet Jennings (NZ).

Featuring Grayson Masefield (accordion), Lorelle McNaughton (piano), Andrew Beer (violin), Sam Swindells (guitar), and Gordon HIll (double bass) in Piazzolla’s original quintet formation, AOTANGO brings us A Century of Tango. A musical journey through the evolution of tango from timeless classics by Ángel Villoldo, Carlos Gardel, and Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, to the revolutionary nuevo tango compositions of Argentinian maestro Ástor Piazzolla.

Four NZSO players with a love of chamber music are joined by NZSO principal flautist Bridget Douglas for this selection of lively and lyrical performances. The programme explores storytelling and folk influences, from Elena Kats-Chernin’s Night and Now and Mozart’s graceful Flute Quartet, to Bartók’s driving Quartet No.4, Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango and Ken Wilson’s witty Introduction, Theme & Variations.

The inimitable Stephen De Pledge returns with a beautiful programme featuring Beethoven’s first piano sonata, composed when he was just 12 years old, and his last, written at the end of his eventful life. Widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of the repertoire, the Sonata Op.111 is a profound and moving work. The programme concludes with two characterful pieces of Liszt, and a quirky new work from London-based NZ composer Jeroen Speak.

Pianist Tony Chen Lin returns home from his Budapest base with Hungarian cellist Balázs Dolfin. Trained in Hungary and Germany, this dynamic duo present a diverse and fascinating programme that includes works by JS Bach, Johannes Brahms, Zoltán Kodály, Belá Bartók, Gao Ping, and Nathanael Dejong (NZ).

Trio Korimako brings together three internationally renowned musicians with decades of experience, who are highly regarded for their powerful communication as well as intelligence of their playing. Helene Pohl (violin), Rolf Gjelsten (cello), and Michael Endres (piano) present works by Haydn, Schubert, Copland, and Brahms.

St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra makes a triumphant return to Warkworth, bringing along two of NZ’s most acclaimed soloists - Monique Lapins (violin) and Matthias Balzat (cello) - performing the great Brahms Double Concerto. With symphonies by Mozart and Gounod, this concert promises to be a richly rewarding event and an exciting conclusion to the Warkworth Music Season.