Shostakovich: UNPACKED

Schedule

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025 at 09:00 am

UTC+13:00

Location

Nelson Centre of Musical Arts | Nelson, NE

Advertisement
Take a front row seat to the raw emotional power of one of the 20th century’s most defiant musical voices.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Dmitri Shostakovich, the New Zealand String Quartet will take to the stage alongside award-winning pianist, Jian Liu, to explore some of this legendary composer’s most powerful chamber music.
The programme features an exciting new composition, ‘Of Sorrows’, by student composer, Estella Wallace. Estella is the recipient of the Finlayson Prize, developed by the New Zealand String Quartet Trust in partnership with New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōkī and SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music and generously sponsored by Hon. Christopher Finlayson. The prize invited students to compose a new piece for string quartet inspired by and responding to the life and works of Dmitri Shostakovich.

This new piece will sit alongside Shostakovich’s celebrated Piano Quintet before the evening comes to its climactic conclusion when award-winning pianist Jian Liu joins beloved NZSQ founding member, Gillian Ansell MNZN for his Viola and Piano Sonata, the last piece he ever wrote.
Ending in hushed silence, and in almost total darkness, this concert will not only leave you deeply moved by what Shostakovich experienced throughout his own life but also inspire reflection of what we as human beings still experience throughout our world today. Don’t miss your chance to witness this incredible piece of chamber music, firsthand.
New Zealand String Quartet
Gillian Ansell (viola)
Peter Clark (violin)
Anna Van Der Zee (guest violin)
Andrew Joyce (guest cello)
Collaborating artist – Jian Liu (piano)
Made with support from The Diessl Family, New Zealand School of Music & Creative New Zealand.
Supported by RMF Law.
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Nelson Centre of Musical Arts, 48 Nile St, Nelson 7010, New Zealand, Nelson

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Nelson Arts Festival

Host or Publisher Nelson Arts Festival

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Nelson

Holding Ground
Thu, 30 Oct at 09:30 am Holding Ground

Theatre Royal Nelson

ART
Tom Lark
Thu, 30 Oct at 10:00 am Tom Lark

DeVille

ART FESTIVALS
Syringe Driver Workshop for ARC RN's\/EN's\/ DN's: Thursday 30 October 2025
Thu, 30 Oct at 01:00 pm Syringe Driver Workshop for ARC RN's/EN's/ DN's: Thursday 30 October 2025

Nelson Tasman Hospice

WORKSHOPS NONPROFIT
October Rural Professional Coffee
Thu, 30 Oct at 10:30 pm October Rural Professional Coffee

Crossbow Coffee Roasters

Rescue Helicopter Charity Golf Tournament
Fri, 31 Oct at 01:00 am Rescue Helicopter Charity Golf Tournament

Nelson Golf Club

SPORTS NONPROFIT
Halloween house in Marsden Road,  Stoke Nelson NZ,
Fri, 31 Oct at 01:00 am Halloween house in Marsden Road, Stoke Nelson NZ,

19 Marsden Road, Stoke Nelson 7011 New Zealand

HALLOWEEN NONPROFIT
Harcourts Ghosts & Goblins
Fri, 31 Oct at 05:30 am Harcourts Ghosts & Goblins

Washbourne Gardens

ART FINE-ARTS
WAARGHH! Halloween Party (Members and Friends only)
Fri, 31 Oct at 06:30 am WAARGHH! Halloween Party (Members and Friends only)

183 Bridge St, Nelson, New Zealand 7010

HALLOWEEN HALLOWEEN-PARTIES
Tom Lark
Thu, 30 Oct at 10:00 am Tom Lark

DeVille

ART FESTIVALS
Pollyhill & Samara Alofa
Sat, 01 Nov at 10:30 am Pollyhill & Samara Alofa

DeVille

ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC
Birds & Other Wonders
Sat, 08 Nov at 09:00 am Birds & Other Wonders

48 Nile Street, Nelson, New Zealand 7010

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Andrew Fagan - Room Twenty5, Nelson
Thu, 13 Nov at 09:30 am Andrew Fagan - Room Twenty5, Nelson

25 McShane Rd, Richmond 7081, New Zealand

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
An Evening with Tom Hutchinson
Sat, 22 Nov at 09:00 am An Evening with Tom Hutchinson

Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Bob McNeill @ Fairfield House, Nelson
Tue, 25 Nov at 09:30 pm Bob McNeill @ Fairfield House, Nelson

Fairfield House

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Douce Ambiance - Nelson
Thu, 04 Dec at 09:30 am Douce Ambiance - Nelson

Fairfield House

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
The Spectacle 2025
Thu, 04 Dec at 05:00 pm The Spectacle 2025

Trafalgar Sq, Nelson 7010, New Zealand

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Two Tribute Shows in One feat. Fleetwood Mac & ABBA
Sat, 06 Dec at 08:00 pm Two Tribute Shows in One feat. Fleetwood Mac & ABBA

The Boathouse Society

ART
Jazz Jam Nights 2026
Thu, 05 Feb at 09:00 am Jazz Jam Nights 2026

The Honest Lawyer

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight: Nelson
Mon, 23 Feb at 10:00 am The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight: Nelson

Trafalgar Centre

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Nelson?

Discover Nelson Events