The dynamic Dolfin-Lin Duo will perform in concert in the Rangiora Library’s Chamber Gallery on September 10.

Presented by the Waimakariri Community Arts Council, in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand (CMNZ), it will feature the New Zealand Chinese pianist Tony Chen Lin and Hungarian cellist Balázs Dolfin. Their performance will explore themes of departures, origins, and journeys, both literally and metaphorically and they will bring together music from Hungary, China, New Zealand, and classical European traditions, with folk music and cultural identity being central threads running through the performance.

“In curating this programme, we wanted not only the two instruments to have a dialogue with one another, but also the pieces themselves to speak to each other, across cultures and centuries, and between past and present,” Tony says.

The first half of the concert and the second half will begin with a piece of music inspired by Hungarian folk music, because both artists consider Budapest to be their musical home, before departing in different directions to Austrian, German, Chinese and New Zealand music.

“What draws me to folk music is that it feels very close to life, very human. It is about ordinary folk, about the people,” Tony says.

“These works may stem from different centuries, cultural backgrounds, and languages, but they ask questions that are still important to us. Where do we come from? What do we leave behind? How do we listen to and learn from one another in the meantime?”

After meeting in Italy in 2021, and forming the duo, Tony and Balázs have performed across Europe, appearing at venues and festivals including Müpa Budapest, György Solti Hall, the Liszt Museum, the Liszt Institute Brussels, and the Semaine Internationale Piano & Musique de Chambre, in Switzerland.

The Rangiora concert will begin at 7.30pm and include music by Bach, Brahms, Kodály, Bartók, Gao Ping and Dejong

Tickets cost $35 for adults and $15 for students. Bookings can be made online at Humanitix. More information is online at: chambergalleryrangiora.com/concerts