Amici Ensemble (piano quartet)

The Amici Ensemble varies artists and works. In 2025 they are a piano quartet. The members are Donald Armstrong, (violin), Alexander McFarlane (viola), Andrew Joyce (cello) and Jian Liu (piano). The string players are NZSO members – Donald is Associate Concertmaster, Alexander Associate Principal Viola and Andrew Principal Cello. Jian is Programme Director of Classical Performance and head of Piano Studies at NZSM.

This concert has a delightful string trio and two substantial piano quartets. The String Trio by Jean Francaix , a witty, graceful, intricate and utterly delightful work, has huge technical challenges for the musicians but lends an effortless air. The Brahms, a work of profound emotional depth and musical richness, was written at time when his friend Robert Schumann was struggling with mental illness. Fauré’s Piano Quartet embodies the elegance of French Impressionism, his refined musical language and his poetic inspirations.

How to buy tickets:

Single tickets are $40, or $10 for those under 26. A school child attending with an adult who has purchased a full-price ticket is free.

You can buy single tickets by:

• Emailing sundayconcertsnz@gmail.com and paying by internet banking to 38-9015-0271891-00 with your name in the reference so we can identify you

• Booking online at: Eventfinda Bookings (transaction fees apply)

• Booking over the counter at ‘Visitor i-Sites’ in Wellington, Lower Hutt, Carterton, Masterton and Martinborough

• Phoning Eventfinda: 0800BUYTIX or 0800 289 849 Note: Eventfinda will not accept postal bookings or payment by cheque. Tickets for all online and phone bookings will be emailed to you.

• At the venue: from 2:30pm on the day of the concert (cash only).

Upcoming Concerts