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Loosening lockdown restrictions has allowed Warkworth Music to resume its 2020 concert season.
The revived season will kick off with New Zealand pianist Stephen De Pledge, who celebrates turning 50 this year with a concert at the Warkworth Town Hall on Sunday, June 28, at 4pm.
The 50th birthday programme contains some of Stephen’s favourite music and includes works by “three absolute giants” of the keyboard world – Chopin, Prokofiev and Bach.
“Chopin revolutionised the future of piano music, and his music is eternally popular – the 3rd Ballade and Heroic Polonaise are evergreen,” Stephen says.
“I adore Prokofiev and his fireworks – he’s a real pianist’s composer, everything is pushed to the limits, and in his 3rd sonata we get the compressed brilliance and the outpouring of lyricism, too.”
Stephen adds that Bach “sits on top of the mountain” for keyboard players.
“We continue to marvel at his unfathomable genius. The NZ Partita combines my great love of Bach with my love of our contemporary New Zealand composers – it’s a glorious mash-up, and a project I am excited to share.”
Stephen studied at the University of Auckland, and then with Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. His career was launched after winning the Gold Medal from the Guildhall.
He has since maintained a wide-ranging performing schedule, as soloist, chamber musician and song accompanist.
Stephen’s solo performances have taken him across the United Kingdom and have included five solo recitals in the Wigmore Hall in London, where he made his acclaimed debut in 1999.
He has also given solo performances in Hong Kong, Italy, France, Singapore, Japan, Australia and the USA.
Concerto appearances include those with the London-based Philharmonia Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras.
Meanwhile, Stephen holds the position of senior lecturer in piano at the University of Auckland, while continuing to perform internationally.
Tickets to the concert are $35 at the door or online at warkworthmusic.org.nz. School students are free.
