Morton Feldman is one of the most distinctive and influential composers of the twentieth century, "a sovereign artist who opened up vast, quiet, agonizingly beautiful worlds of sound" (Alex Ross).
In the composer's centenary year, Mondrian Ensemble (Switzerland) joins New Zealand pianist Stephen De Pledge to present the New Zealand premiere of Morton Feldman's final work, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello. First performed in July 1987, two months before the composer's passing, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello is an elegant and austere work that unfolds over 75 minutes. This is music that rewards the patience it asks of the room.
The concert will open with two works written for De Pledge by Samuel Holloway: Soft Logic, a new solo work for piano, and Matter (2013)—works that reflect Holloway's longstanding engagement with Feldman's work and ideas.
Founded in Basel in 2000, Ensemble Mondrian—Ivana Pristašová-Zaugg (violin), Petra Ackermann (viola) and founding member Martin Jaggi (cello)—has built an exceptional reputation through close collaboration with living composers, and performances of new and historical works across Europe. This is their first visit to New Zealand.
