GOLD COAST PIANO QUARTET

This concert presents a journey through the intense emotional landscapes of the Romantic era, featuring works of profound youth, rare longing, and striking Czech lyricism. The program beautifully traces the staggering genius of Mendelssohn, Mahler and Suk, three prodigies and the deep connections between these pupils and their masters.

NIGEL BARDSLEY, VIOLIN

MARTIN LASS, VIOLA

Belinda Manwaring, Cello

SARKA BUDINSKA, PIANO

DATE & TIME

SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST

3:00 – 4:30 PM

TICKETS

GENERAL $30

CONCESSION $25

Children Free

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PROGRAM

Written in 1823 when Felix Mendelssohn was just 14 years old, this quartet bursts with a virtuosic, dramatic energy that completely belies his youth. Dedicated to his teacher Carl Friedrich Zelter, it frames classical brilliance within an intense, fiery Romantic storm.

Gustav Mahler is globally celebrated for his massive symphonies, but this single, surviving movement from 1876 represents his only remaining piece of chamber music. Composed at age 16 during his time at the Vienna Conservatory, it is an exquisite, dark, and ominous fragment filled with Brahmsian longing and symphonic ambition.

Originally written in 1900 as the second piece in his Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Josef Suk’s Appassionato is a masterclass in late-Romantic Czech lyricism. In this program we will experience it in a lush, expanded arrangement by violist and composer Martin Lass, highlighting its driving cross-rhythms and soaring emotional peaks.

Josef Suk’s official graduation piece from 1891 is dedicated to his beloved mentor, Antonín Dvořák. This well-crafted opus overflows with rich melodies, alternating between fierce, march-like drive and deeply moving, nocturne-like gentleness. It stands as a brilliant monument to a young composer finding his own legendary voice.

NIGEL BARDSLEY – VIOLIN

Since 2003 Nigel has been Head of Strings at All Saints Anglican School. He is also a member of faculty at the Cremona International Music Academy (Italy). Nigel also conducts for the State Honours Program at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and regularly plays with the Rockhampton Symphony Orchestra.

SARKA BUDINSKA – PIANO

Sarka is a graduate from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. Since relocating to Australia, she has been active as a collaborative pianist, piano teacher and chamber musician. Beside being tutor and accompanist at The Southport School Sarka also holds the position of sessional accompanist at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and at the School of Music, University of Queensland.

Belinda Manwaring – Cello

Belinda studied at the Sydney Conservatorium with distinguished cellist Lois Simpson. In 1982 she was awarded a Queen Elizabeth 11 Silver Jubilee Award to study with Radu Aldulescu and Pierre Fournier in Switzerland, at the International Menuhin Music Academy. She has performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the ACO, The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, where she was lucky enough to be playing at the last public performance of Dame Joan Sutherland. In 1988 she toured the USA as a member of The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and between 1985-88 performed frequently at the Newcastle Conservatorium where she taught cello. Belinda has performed in numerous solo and duo recitals, on both baroque and modern cello. Her chamber music concerts include performances at HOTA, 4 MBS FM Festival of Classics and The Robert Channon Winery concert series in Stanthorpe with The Arioso Chamber Ensemble, and The Gold Coast Piano Quartet.

MARTIN LASS – VIOLA

Martin Lass is a violinist, violist, composer, and teacher. He trained at the NSW Conservatorium of Music under Robert Pikler, John Gould, and the legendary Lim Kek Tjiang (who is featured in the iconic book series, “The Way They Play”). Martin was a member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in its foundation years, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra over a period of 20 years. He is a current member of the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Martin has performed worldwide, alongside the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Yehudi Menuhin, Julio Iglesias, Olivia Newton John and more, both in the classical and popular fields. His was awarded the Australian Variety Club Showman of the Year, the “Mo Award” for Australia’s Best Instrumentalist 7 years in a row, and has performed solo in three Royal Command performances for the Royal Family. He has produced 10 recordings, resulting in a “Gold Album” and an ARIA award nomination. As a strings teacher, Martin has had 40+ years of experience in his private studio and at prestigious schools across Australia, including fulfilling the role of Head or Coordinator of Strings at St. Joseph’s College (Sydney), Cranbrook School (Sydney), AB Paterson College (Gold Coast), John Paul College (Brisbane), and, currently, Hillcrest Christian College (Gold Coast).