At the World's Edge Festival 2025

AWE FESTIVAL 2025 | Chamber Music Festival in the Southern Alps

QUEENSTOWN LAKES | 4-17 October

At the World’s Edge is the globally renowned classical music festival in the heart of New Zealand’s mountain scapes. This year, some of the world’s most exciting national and international talents take you on a journey through seven curated programmes in Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and Bannockburn, with free community events throughout. Experience the sounds of the sublime where classical music and the Southern Alps collide.

With spectacular sounds against majestic scapes, experience the power of chamber music in New Zealand alongside internationally renowned musicians, lifelong enthusiasts, and curious adventurers alike. More than a series of live music events, we are a platform for the arts in our region and a spark for creativity to come.

1 |  INTIMATE VOICES
Sat 4 Oct  |  4pm & 7:30pm
Rippon, Wānaka
Adults $70 | Students $25

AWE 2025 begins with Intimate Voices, in an exploration of the human desire to emulate nature. It captures the classical ideal of order, form, and balance, and delves into Sibelius’ deep connection with nature.

• John Psathas AWE 2024 Commission for two violins

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart String Quartet No.17 in B-Flat Major, K.458, The Hunt

• John Psathas Cool wind for string quartet

• Jean Sibelius String Quartet in d minor, op.5, Voces Intimae

2 | BARROCO
Sun 5 Oct  |  2pm & 5pm

Rippon, Wānaka
Adults $70 | Students $25

Barroco explores themes of nature and beauty, as told by baroque composers. The programme features works from lifelong friends, Handel and Telemann, while the world premiere of John Psathas' AWE 2025 commission pairs with a piece by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, who greatly influenced his music.

• Georg Philipp Telemann Ouverture-Suite in A major for Strings & Basso continuo TWV 55:A1 

• John Psathas AWE 2025 Commission for double cello string quintet

• George Frideric Handel Concerto Grosso in a minor, opus. 6, no. 4 HWV 322

• Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten

• Pietro Locatelli Concerto Grosso in c minor, opus 1, no. 11

3 | CLAVIERS
Mon 7 Oct  |  7:30pm
Te Atamira, Queenstown
Adults $70 | Students $25

Claviers is a special Queenstown festival programme exploring the evolution of the harpsichord and piano, continuing the Baroque composers' exploration of nature-inspired aesthetics. The journey culminates in a work by Ravel that profoundly impacted this year’s Composer in Residence, John Psathas.

The Harpsichord - Erin Helyard

• François Couperin Les barricades mistérieuses from Pièces de claveçin, Livre II, Ordre 6 & Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins from Pièces de clavecin, Livre VI, Ordre 6

• Jean-Philippe Rameau Les sauvages from Nouvelle suites de pièces de claveçin

• George Frideric Handel Harmonious Blacksmith from Suite in E Major (HWV 430)

• Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata in e minor BWV 914

• Bernardo Storace Ciaconna (Venice, 1664)

• Antonio Vivaldi Cello Sonata no. 7  in a minor, RV 44

The Piano - Michael Houstoun

• Johann Sebastian Bach Prelude & Fugue in a minor from Book 2 of The Well-tempered Clavier

• John Psathas Jupiter and Venus

• Maurice Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit

4 | ORBIT
Thur 9 Oct  |  6pm
Cloudy Bay Shed, Cromwell
Limited Release | $150

Orbit takes us on a journey through works inspired by the sun and moon’s daily dance across the sky. Our popular wine and music evening at Cloudy Bay sees the sun setting behind the Pisa Range to the unparalleled sounds of classical music in New Zealand.

• Joseph Haydn String Quartet No. 63 in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4, Sunrise

• Ludwig van Beethoven Eyeglass Duo for viola and cello

• John Psathas Gyftiko for solo violin

• Augusta Read Thomas Silent Moon for violin and viola 

• Giacomo Puccini I Crisantemi (chrysanthemums)

• Salina Fisher Mata-Au for violin, viola and cello, AWE 2021 Commission

During the evening, Festival Director Justine Cormack will also host a Q&A with this year’s Composer in Residence, John Psathas.

5 | REVERIE
Fri 10 Oct  |  7:30pm
Te Atamira, Queenstown
Adults $70 | Students $25

Reverie explores diverse forms, natural and musical, and the fluid space between form and freedom. With music that envisions new structures while breaking traditional boundaries, the festival programme in Queenstown culminates in a string quartet celebrated for its innovative structure and profound emotional depth.

• Eleanor Alberga Piano Quintet No.1 ‘Clouds’ 

• Igor Stravinsky Three Pieces for String Quartet

• John Psathas Sleeper for solo piano

• Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet in c-sharp minor op.131

6 | WHORL
Sat 12 Oct  |  4pm & 7pm
Coronation Hall, Bannockburn
Adults $70 | Students $25

Whorl explores recurring patterns and motifs drawn from nature, beginning with an intricate interplay of voices in Double Helix. We then present our AWE 2025 Emerging Composer commission, followed by a piece from our Composer in Residence, John Psathas, and Ravel’s inimitable String Quartet.

• Augusta Read Thomas Mansueto Tribute ‘Double Helix’ for two violins

• AWE 2025 Emerging Composer New work

• John Psathas Piano Quintet 

• Maurice Ravel String Quartet 
  

7 | PRISM
Sun 12 Oct  |  2pm & 5:30pm
Te Atamira, Queenstown
Adults $80 | Students $35

Our final programme, Horizon, explores the human need to explore, to bridge divides, and to aspire for more. Works by Amy Beach, Claude Debussy and John Psathas pull from the beauty of nature, before one of the most innovative, ambitious and inventive pieces of all time concludes our festival in Queenstown.

• Amy Beach Hermit Thrush at Morn, op.92 for solo piano

• Claude Debussy Sonata for violin and piano

• John Psathas Corybas for piano trio

• Amy Beach Hermit Thrush at Eve, op.92 for solo piano

• Georges Enescu String Octet
  

AWE 2025 Festival Artists:

Benjamin Baker (NZ/UK), Violin
Justine Cormack (NZ), Violin
Anthony Marwood (UK), Violin
Marike Krupp (Estonia/UK), Violin
Jordan Brooks (South Africa/UK), Violin
Sarah Lee (NZ), VIolin
Yura Lee (USA), Viola
Serenity Thrulow (NZ), Viola
Tal Amoore (NZ), Viola
Andrew Joyce (UK/NZ), Cello
James Bush (NZ), Cello
Michael Houstoun (NZ), Piano
Erin Helyard (Australia), Harpsichord

AWE 2024 Composer in Residence:

John Psathas (NZ)

Visit www.worldsedgefestival.com for further programme details, full artist information, multiple free performances and events to deepen the AWE experience.