A classical treat to mark Matariki
The community has the chance to hear acclaimed pianist Claire Rouault perform famous classical music celebrating the stars and moonlight as part of Matariki celebrations.
Victory Community Centre centre co-ordinator Gareth Cashin said the concert was part of the centre’s goal of putting on more art and cultural activities and make them more accessible to the area.
It was the first time the centre had hosted a classical music concert and he hoped that Victory and the wider community would support it.
‘‘It’s something new for us and I am really excited about it.’’
Kee’s Mart Filipino/Asian Foodstore and Victory on the Spot had helped sponsor the concert.
Tickets are only $3 thanks to the financial support of the sponsors and the centre. Usually it would cost $15 for adults to attend a similar concert.
Claire is bringing her concert piano as part of her Piano on Tour programme which aims to bring classical music to people who might not normally get the chance to hear it.
Gareth said he heard Claire play at Victory School as part of that tour.
‘‘She had 400 children in awe of her. It was really outstanding.’’
Saturday’s concert is from 4pm till 5pm and takes the form of two 25-minute performances and a 10-minute break in the middle.
Gareth is asking those attending to dress in black and white.
‘‘Often for classical performances people get really dressed up and this is a bit of a play on dress up.’’ Gareth says people can wear whatever they want from formal clothes like a tuxedo to informal, like a rugby or rugby league jersey.
Claire’s partner Jean-Francois Robert says Claire will be playing a new Yamaha concert piano imported from Japan.
The 400kg piano arrived in midMay.
Jean-Francois says Claire loves playing for communities like Victory, and really enjoyed her earlier performance at Victory School. She was so moved they teamed up with Nelson’s Mr Music to donate a piano to Victory School.
‘‘She had the same experience at Cobden School. The human aspect of what happened, that is just quite outstanding. It’s just something exceptional.’’
He says the feedback from a student at Victory School pupil reinforces the reason why they do the concerts.
The student said she really liked Claire’s music even though it was old and classical. She says she never got emotional listening to things but ‘‘got sucked in like a wormhole’’.
‘‘I guess that’s what classical music can do to you . . . it made me cry and that’s when I realised that classical music can be strong and it also can be touching,’’ she said.
Jean-Francois says they are well received at higher decile schools, but many children at those schools already have had access to classical music.
Playing at lower decile schools they are able to help children discover a world they had totally ignored up until then.
‘‘It’s good for them, but it is wonderful for us too. Both Claire and I had this experience of music being brought to us. We know that there can be one moment that triggers something in your life.’’