Marcus Norman - hosting more pianists than you can throw a piano at. Photo: The Records Doug & Heather
The Piano, one of Christchurch's finest live music venues, is turning ten next year, and it plans to celebrate with pianists.
The venue's manager (and part-time RNZ Concert announcer Marcus Norman) joined Three to Seven host Bryan Crump to discuss its New Zealand's International Piano Recital Series.
Pianists include Luu Hong Quang, David Fung, Modi Deng, Somi Kim and Diedre Irons, who will perform in duet with her former pupil Jun Bouterey-Ishido.
Christchurch jazz musician Darren Pickering will add a touch of swing to the series.
Darren Pickering; bringing the jazz. Photo: Adam Hodgson
The Piano is a specially built auditorium that emerged in 2016 out of the rubble of post-quake Christchurch, when members of the local arts scene recognised not just the need, but an opportunity for a new purpose-built venue.
"For a time, The Piano really was a beacon of hope and activity for the arts, for music," says Norman. "As a place of gathering at a time when there weren't really many places to gather."
Christchurch-raised Norman has been manager of the venue since 2024 when he moved back home from Auckland.
It's not quite the city he knew when he left - thanks to the quakes - but in many ways it's much better.
"I feel like I've come home to a new home. For me the city is quite different from the one I remember growing up in and there's an excitement there... I feel so lucky that I really feel so inspired by coming back home to what feels like a new city."
