Experience the New Zealand premiere of this seminal contemporary work.

On April 24, 1976, Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians premiered and changed the sound of contemporary music. Nearly 50 years later, it finally arrives in Aotearoa.

Join us on 15 August at The Piano, Christchurch for the New Zealand premiere of this iconic 55-minute work, performed live for the first time in this country.

Built on pulsing rhythms, shifting harmonies, and a constant, hypnotic beat, Music for 18 Musicians is less a concert and more an experience.

This one-off performance brings together a large ensemble of professional and emerging New Zealand musicians – instrumentalists, vocalists, and students – working side by side, presented in partnership with faculty and students from the University of Canterbury School of Music, and featuring singers from Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir.

Come see the piece that “altered the direction of musical history “ - The Guardian

One night only.

Performers

Mark Menzies violin
Freya McKeich cello
David McGregor, Reuben Derrick clarinets
Sarah Besley, Nicola Holt, Shelley Liken, Jessica Adams women’s voices (VoicesNZ)
Tim Emerson, Hamish Oliver, Kyle Hsieh, Alec Mark pianos
Keina Rollinson, Hannah Kagawa, Katia Ashmore marimbas
Naomi Kelly, Quincy Lam maracas/marimbas/piano
Cameron Smillie, Sho Kubota xylophones
Justin DeHart vibraphone