The Press

Quartet courts the Bridgerton faithful

The New Zealand String Quartet will perform Bridgerton by Candleligh­t, offering a programme of classical and contempora­ry music in an atmospheri­c setting. By Victoria Meakin.

It’s not often that a classical music institutio­n seeks to align itself with rap and R&B, but the New Zealand String Quartet hopes to engage younger fans with its latest offering.

Taking a Netflix hit as inspiratio­n, Bridgerton by Candleligh­t will feature the musicians playing everything from Joseph Haydn to Calvin Harris, emulating the TV show’s adaptation of contempora­ry songs into a classical style.

With atmospheri­c lighting and a relaxed mood in which the performers will give the audience insights about the programme, attendees will hear adaptation­s of songs by Ariana Grande, Pitbull and Madonna alongside compositio­ns from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The quartet’s general manager, Aislinn Ryan, believed much of the classical repertoire would also be familiar to attendees.

Audiences might be quite surprised when they realise they do recognise that Haydn string quartet playing in one of the ball scenes [in Bridgerton]. I think in every series there’s been a Haydn string quartet featured.”

Most of the music featured in Bridgerton was for string quartet, which Ryan said was forever linked with Haydn.

“Haydn is quite revered in the string quartet genre because he’s considered to be the father of the genre. It never really existed until

Haydn wrote all these string quartets.” Bridgerton, developed by the US production company Shondaland – which also created Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal – has captivated TV audiences with its blend of raunchy regency romance and contempora­ry hits.

However, the string quartet won’t be donning regency outfits and – unlike the TV show – the performanc­e will be family friendly.

“We’re going to keep it fairly contempora­ry, it’s really about the music, but we’re going to create a really nice atmosphere,” Ryan said.

“Classical music actually permeates so much of entertainm­ent or society, if you think about TV advertisem­ents and films, it’s constantly around them, but a lot of people don’t think that’s for them,” she added.

She believed this blend of a profession­al classical performanc­e and a modern streaming behemoth would hit the spot.

“It’s kind of giving people an entry point into experienci­ng chamber music but in a space and a context that they feel really comfortabl­e and excited about.”

The NZ String Quartet was founded in 1987 and has premiered more than 150 Kiwi works since its inception, together with performing a wide repertoire of other music. It will perform Bridgerton By Candleligh­t in Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre on Saturday, August 31 (tickets from Ticketmast­er) and at the James Hay Theatre in Christchur­ch on Sunday, September 15, at 4pm. Christchur­ch tickets are available from Ticketek.