ARTS + CULTURE ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Cellist Eliah Sakakushev-von Bismarck, performing Dohnányi’s Konzertstück OP 12 in D major 20 August - 2.30pm Sophisticated and elegant world citizen, cellist Eliah Sakakushev-von Bismarck lives in Westmere with his wife first violinist Caroline von Bismarck and daughter Hannah Floria.
John Madden - West 15 August - 2 September, Opening: 15 August 5pm-7pm John Madden translates the raw drama of the coastal landscape without contrivance: he matches the land’s ruggedness with his own rigorous approach. According to author Christopher Johnstone in Landscape Paintings of New Zealand, Madden’s works possess a “brooding, emotive character which typifies his very personal and painterly response to a land he never tires of painting.” Dominated by the Pararaha Ranges, the west coast of the Waitakeres is where Madden has tramped, explored, studied and painted for many years. West, is a further exploration of his surroundings in this show of new paintings. F PN Please contact rex@orexart.co.nz for details.
Eliah has had a versatile career as chamber musician, soloist, orchestra lead cellist and teacher, and has made numerous concert appearances in Europe, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, the United States, Russia, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Of Eliah’s playing William Dart, NZ Herald’s music critic, said “Cellist Eliah Sakakushev-von Bismarck gave a rapturous performance. The Strauss was amiably lightweight and Sakakushev-von Bismarck, playing without a score, wove his sinuous lines through the orchestra web with elegance and the subtlest of rubato.”
SHOWING @ OREXART
OREXART, 15 Putiki Street, Arch Hill, T: 09 378 0588, www.orexart.co.nz
Elegant Cellist Eliah Sakakushev - von Bismarck
At age seven Bulgarian born Eliah went to the Special School for Musicians in his hometown Plovdiv. He followed that with studies in Vienna, Mannheim and Switzerland. Amongst influential teachers were Russian cellists Victoria Yagling and M. Rostropovich. Eliah plays a master cello by French luthier Leon Bernardel, made in Paris in 1899. www.eliahshai.com
Winter Dunes
Eliah recently launched the Emona Chamber Players, a flexible ensemble of New Zealand and internationally renowned musicians aiming to bring high-quality chamber music to New Zealand and Australian audiences. St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is a dedicated group of musicians whose high-quality music making brings their audiences much joy. (Gillian Ansell, NZ String Quartet). Their concerts play to full houses. Make sure you get there early. Tickets: Eventfinda or door sales cash. Adults: $25, Concessions: $20, children under 12 free. F PN ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY CHURCH corner Wellesley and Hobson Streets, www.smco.org.nz Lost In The Dunes
116 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2017
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)