Concerts – THE International Akaroa Music Festival
Michael Endres Solo
Saturday, 3rd January 2026, 7pm
Orion Powerhouse Gallery.
Renowned German/New Zealand pianist Michael Endres has been praised internationally for his artistry and depth of interpretation. Richard Dyer of The Boston Globe describes him as“…one of the most interesting pianists recording today”.
In this special recital, Michael Endres will guide the audience through his program in conversation, offering insights into the composers and the works performed.
The Snowden Scholars
Sunday, 4th January 2026, 1pm
Orion Powerhouse Gallery
Vihaan Singh, violin
Rebecca Fraser, cello
Natsune Yuge, piano
Anya Fang, piano
The 2026 Akaroa Festival Michael Snowden scholarship recipients will present a lunchtime recital including solo works for violin, cello, and piano. Camilla de Oliveira will be accompanying.
THE PETTMANN ENSEMBLE
Sunday, 4th January 2026, 6pm
Orion Powerhouse Gallery
Join us for a captivating Sunday late afternoon recital with the Pettman Ensemble, featuring pianist Michael Endres, violinist Elizabeth Layton, violist Stephen King and cellist Edith Salzmann. Set in the exquisite acoustics of the Powerhouse Gallery, this concert invites you to immerse yourself in the elegance and energy of 18th- and 19th-century Vienna—a time when music flourished and some of the greatest chamber works were born.
The Pettman Ensemble
Elizabeth Layton, violin
Stephen King, viola
Edith Salzmann, cello
Michael Endres, piano
Joseph Haydn
Piano trio in E major
W.A Mozart
Duo in G major K423
Robert Schumann
Piano quartet in E flat Major op.47
BACH BY CANDLELIGHT
Monday, 5th January 2026, 7pm
St Peters Church, Akaroa
Join us for an evening with the master of timeless artistry and architectural elegance —Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed by distinguished Festival artists, this program showcases the profound beauty, complexity, and spiritual depth of Bach’s music in the stunning setting of St. Peter’s.
Bebop for Beagles
Tuesday, 6th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
A concert full of charm, colour, and character—Bebop for Beagles offers something for everyone. Enjoy beloved favourites and uncover unexpected musical gems, from moments of deep r relaxation to bursts of playful energy. Highlights include “Cookies in Space”, a whimsical movement from the suite Bebop for Beagles, and a spirited arrangement of Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody for string quintet. This vibrant program, performed by Festival artists, promises delight, surprise, and a few wagging tails.
Yoon Jung Yang, violin
Sterling Rieck, viola
Clara Salzmann,viola
Nicholas Miceli, violin
Edith Salzmann, cello
Gideon Klein
String trio
Benedict Brydern
Bebop for Beagles
for violin and viola
Georges Enescu
Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1
arr. for string quintet
Cellissimo
Thursday 8th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Experience the exhilarating sound of a large cello ensemble as they explore a rich and diverse repertoire—from Beethoven to Brazilian folk and pop music.This vibrant program features exquisite arrangements, including the iconic pop classic “Mas Que Nada” by Jorge Ben and the powerful Bachianas Brasileiras by Heitor Villa-Lobos, featuring soprano Stephanie Acraman. A celebration of rhythm, resonance, and the expressive power of the cello.
Stephnie Acraman, soprano
Alvin Wong, Edith Salzmann and the Akaroa Festival Cellists
Heitor Villa Lobos
Bachiana No. 5
for Soprano and eight cellists
Mathias Bartolomey
‘ Preikestolen’
Ludwig van Beethoven
Coriolan Overture
Manuel de Fall
Siete Canzones espagnoles, arr. for cello ensembl
Kung Fu panda
arr by Alvin Wong
Mission Impossible
arr by Alvin Wong
THE ROARING 20’S
Friday 9th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Stephanie Acraman, soprano
Elizabeth Layton, violin
Stephen King, viola
Edith Salzmann, cello
Camilla de Oliveira, piano
Anna Goldsworthy, piano
Step back into the dazzling world of the 1920s, a decade of jazz, flamboyant fashion, and a bold break from Victorian traditions. This vibrant concert celebrates the spirit of the Roaring Twenties through storytelling, fantasy, and unbridled virtuosity. Featuring music that captures both the exuberance of jazz and the elegance of classical style, join us on a journey through one of the most thrilling eras in music history – where boundaries blurred and creativity soared.
George Gershwin
The Man I Love –
Fascinating Rhythm
Summertime
Hoagy Carmichael
Stardust
Irving Berlin
Blue Skies
Putting on the Ritz
Raymond Hubbell
Poor Butterfly
Cole Porter
Love For Sale
What is this thing called Love
Someone to Watch Over Me
Del Cabello Mas Sutil (Obradors)
Kurt Weill
Youkali
Dmitri Shostakovich
Piano quintet op.57
Igor Strawinsky
Suite Italienne
Dmitri Shostakovich
Piano quintet op.57
Proudly brought to you by The Pettman National Junior Academy of Music.
During the International Akaroa Summer Festival, the charming seaside town transforms into an oasis of world-class music — from chamber music and opera to jazz, virtuosic fireworks, and the exuberant spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
Treat yourself to our vibrant concert series, enjoy a glass of wine in the historic Gaiety Hall during intermission, and experience unforgettable performances by celebrated artists including Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Elizabeth Layton, Stephen King, Michael Endres, Anna Goldsworthy, and many more.
Celebrate the next generation of talent in our Powerhouse series, featuring some of New Zealand’s and Australia’s finest young musicians, or get a glimpse behind the scenes in our public masterclasses.
We look forward to welcoming you to Akaroa in 2026!
To book tickets and find out more!
Michael Endres Solo
Saturday, 3rd January 2026, 7pm
Orion Powerhouse Gallery.
The Snowden Scholars
Sunday, 4th January 2026, 1pm
Orion Powerhouse Gallery
The Pettmann ensemble
Sunday, 4th January 2026, 6pm
Orion Powerhouse Gallery
BACH BY CANDLELIGHT
Monday, 5th January 2026, 7pm
St Peters Church, Akaroa
BEBOP FOR BEAGLES
Tuesday, 6th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Rediscovering Voices: Rare Musical Treasures
Wednesday, 7th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
CELLISSIMO
Thursday 8th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
THE ROARING 20’S
Friday 9th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
TOREaDOR AND TARANTELLAS
Saturday, 10th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Kuaka In the Time of jacaranda
Sunday, 11th January 2026, 1pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS
Sunday, 11th January 2026, 5pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Rediscovering Voices: Rare Musical Treasures
Wednesday 7th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Elizabeth Layton, violin
Yoon Jung Yang, violin
Stephen King, viola
Edith Salzmann, cello
Alvin Wong, cello
Camila de Oliveira, piano
Anna Goldsworthy, narration
Grammy-nominated composer Angel Lam brings her distinctive voice to New Zealand in a programme that bridges centuries of musical imagination. Known for her evocative storytelling and expressive lyricism, Lam weaves melody, orchestration, and language into music that explores life, memory, and human connection.
The concert also features the first performance by emerging composer Thomas Gray and two Ignaz Pleyel string quintets, recently recorded for Naxos Records by the Pettman Ensemble.
Ignaz Pleyel
String quintets
Thomas Gray
String trio (premiere)
Angel Lam
Awakening from a Disappearing Garden
Toredor and Tarantellas
Saturday 10th January 2026, 7pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Teddy Tahu Rhodes needs no introduction — the internationally acclaimed baritone commands the opera stage and concert platform with equal brilliance. In Toreador and Tarantellas, he joins soprano Stephanie Acraman and the Akaroa Festival Artists for a captivating program that spans fiery arias from Carmen and other operatic favourites, set alongside the spirited rhythms of Baroque tarantellas and fandangos. A thrilling collision of drama, passion, and dazzling musical colour.
Teddy Tahu Rhodes, baritone
Stephanie Acraman, soprano
Mark Menzies, Elizabeth Layton, Yoon Jung Yang, violin
Stephen King, viola
Edith Salzmann, Alvin Wong, cello
Anna Goldsworthy, piano
Nicolas Miceli, Sofia Tortorelli, Javier Goh, violin
Clara Salzmann, Tianyou Jiang,viola,
AJ Singh, cello
Wolfgang Kraemer, recorder, Scout White, mandolin, Jonathan le Cocq, guitar
Georges Bizet
Toreador
Habanera
Seguidilla
from the opera “Carmen
Gioachino Rossini
Largo al Factotum (from the opera: The Barber of Seville)
Arnold Schoenberg
Transfiguered Night
Dmitri Shostakovich
Octet op.11
Prelude. Adagio
Scherzo. Allegro molto
KUAka in the time of jacaranda
Sunday, 11th January 2026, 1pm
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Agnieszka Deneka, soprano
Yumeka Hildreth, soprano
Wolfgang Kraemer, recorder
Mark Menzies, harpsichord and piano
Nicholas Miceli, violin
Sofia Tortorelli, violin
Clara Salzmann, viola
Aj Singh, cello
Mark Menzies
* Kūaka in the time of Jacaranda
* They in Curitiba
* After a prelude
Johann Sebastian Bach
* Ei! Wie schmeckt der Kaffee süße – from: Coffee Cantata, BWV 211
* Aus Liebe – from: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
* Orchestral suite no. 2, BWV 1067 – Rondeau/ Bourée 1 & 2 / Polonaise & Double/ Menuet/ Badinerie
The epic annual migratory journey of the kūaka – from New Zealand to Alaska and back again – serves as a suitable metaphor for this concert focusing on the baroque-instrument ensemble that includes recorder, harpsichord, strings and voice. Menzies’ Kūaka in the time of jacaranda creates a suit of songs centred on images of migratory flight across an ocean: the range of music the concert offers is a varied journey from arias from Bach’s rich contributions to music, to Menzies’ contemporary utilisations of baroque-era resources and gestures.
VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS
Sunday, 11th January 2026, 5m
The Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa
Landscapes in Sound: Vivaldi Reimagined, Dvořák Celebrated
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons needs no introduction — but in the hands of Mark Menzies and the Akaroa Festival Chamber Players, this timeless masterpiece is reborn in a fresh and daring interpretation.
For the second half of the program, we pair Vivaldi with another audience favourite: Dvořák’s Piano Quintet Op. 81, one of the finest examples of late Romantic chamber music, brimming with lyricism, warmth, and vitality.
Mark Menzies, violin
Elizabeth Layton, violin
Stephen King, viola
Edith Salzmann, cello
Anna Goldsworthy, piano
Antonio Vivaldi
The Four Seasons
“Spring” (La primavera)
Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269,
“Summer” (L’estate)
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315,
“Autumn” (L’autunno)
Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293,
“Winter” (L’inverno)
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297,
Antonín Dvořák
Quintet A Major, op. 81
Students’ Lunchtimes concert series at the Powerhouse Gallery
Hear the students of The Pettman National Junior Academy of Music and celebrate their learning.
Join us at the Powerhouse Gallery for a series of lunchtime concerts featuring some of New Zealand and Australia’s finest young musicians, as they share the stage and their passion for performance. These emerging artists are guided by world-class mentors as part of the Akaroa Summer Festival, offering audiences a unique glimpse into their artistic development and musical journey.