Goodbye to A Special Martinborough Event

Margaret Medlyn with Winifred Bull.

The tributes have been flowing in from the many people who have enjoyed the Opera Concerts that Winifred Bull and her late husband David hosted in their home in Martinborough.   The Bulls long dreamed of providing a venue for young artists to gain performance experience  and designed their home in Martinborough with that in mind.  Not many people can claim a room that seats an audience of 100 people!  

Now, after 10 years of sold-out opera singing concerts, Winifred is saying a final farewell to this special fixture on the local musical calendar.   The regret of the loyal audience has been heartfelt but so has the appreciation.   The concerts have delighted those attending, offered opportunities for young singers and created yet another event to enhance the village’s cultural reputation. Plus the concerts have raised $50,000 to support VUW School of Music’s biennial student opera. *

Over the years some 100 young singers have performed in the concerts.  These were  initially set up in partnership with the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and later the NZ School of Classical Voice at VUW and in particular Dr Margaret Medlyn ONZM.  Some of these students have gone on to national and international singing careers while others have moved into directing, composing, writing librettos or conducting. All say they have loved  performing in Martinborough.   

To recognise the Bulls’ contribution to the careers of its singing students  the university has set up the “The David and Winifred Bull Scholarship in Vocal Performance”.    Winifred credits Tom Bunny for this initiative.  From being an adamant musical non-starter he became a dedicated supporter and then booster for official recognition. … Continue Reading

Martinborough Wine & Food Society

“The Martinborough Wine & Food Society held its most recent function – a tasting of the variety generally known in NZ as Albarino – on Friday 9 June, at the Golf Club.  The function was, as usual, an informal affair, consisting of six wines, accompanied by platters prepared by members of the committee.

The Cellar Master presented the six wines in three flights: two wines from Marlborough, followed by two from Hawke’s Bay, and finally one from Gisborne accompanied by the benchmark wine, from Spain.

There is seldom anything competitive about our tastings; that is, we rarely do blind tastings, or score the wines. Instead, we prefer to simply discuss the wines among ourselves, and appreciate the similarities and subtle differences.

The Cellar Master handed out tasting notes which he had prepared, from some of the wineries, and from several New Zealand wine critics. He then described something of the origins of Albarino, and presented the wines with a little further commentary. 

Members were left to taste and discuss the wines at their tables.

It was a small gathering, possibly because several members are avoiding the winter by travelling to a warmer climate. 

The consensus among the attendees, however, was that the Albarino from the Forrest Vineyard in Marlborough was the outstanding wine, alongside the Quinta do Couselo Barbuntin, from Spain.

The society’s meetings are usually held on the second Friday of each month. 

If you are interested in joining, or learning more, please call our President, Philippa, on 021-434-163, or Treasurer, Dave, on 027-453-0475.

Weird Worlds and Astronomy from your Couch

The Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve was delighted to host Professor Chris Lintott in June.  Chris Lintott is professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, and co-presenter with Maggie Aderin-Pocock of the BBC astronomy programme The Sky At Night. 

Originally presented by Patrick Moore in 1957, it is one of the longest running tv programmes in the world.

Chris Lintott was visiting New Zealand to work with collaborators at the University of Canterbury, and to speak at the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) conference in Auckland. 

RASNZ kindly supported his trip to the Wairarapa, where he gave a talk to about 40 people at the Royal Hotel in Featherston titled Weird Worlds. 

The subject was exoplanets – planets that orbit stars other than the Sun – and he described how varied and strange some of these discoveries can be, ranging from groups of planets which have resonant orbits that can be rendered as musical chords, to giant rocky planets and worlds that orbit more than one star. … Continue Reading

Encounter China during Matariki

Enjoy an illustrated talk by Duncan Campbell on China’s 17th century books & libraries, held at NZ’s oldest purpose-built, still-functioning library, the Carterton Library, on Friday 21 July, from 1 to 3pm. Space is limited. Reservations: events.waiword@gmail.com. Koha.

Nau mai, Haere mai! Learn about our links with China and our sister city. Be part of an afternoon during Matariki to reflect on our past relationships, where we stand now, and how we might create the future together. 

Did you know that Wairarapa has had artist and teacher exchanges with Changchun? That local artist Sam Ludden has a tuna-based sculpture in the city’s 90-hectare, world-class sculpture park? Have you sat in the authentic Chinese pavilion in Kuripuni?

Everyone is welcome at Aratoi on Saturday 22 July, 1.30-3.30. 

Enjoy an introduction to the recent book, Encountering China – New Zealanders and the People’s Republic, which has 50 very different pieces of writing, by Hone Tūwhare, Nina Mingya Powles, Alison Wong, Murray Edmond, Meng Foon, Pauline Keating and many others.

“Individually these memoirs are absorbing and enjoyable. Collectively the book gives a picture of the breadth and depth of the relationship that is often overlooked.” — Capital Magazine

“Given present geopolitical realities,” writes the book’s co-editor Duncan Campbell, “we were from the start of the process intent that the book would serve to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between NZ and PRC, rather than, necessarily, celebrating the occasion. … Continue Reading