Music of Nikolai Medtner: Distant, Yet So Close

Music of Nikolai Medtner: Distant, Yet So Close

At a time when music was rapidly changing, Nikolai Medtner chose to defend what he believed to be its enduring truths.

Join us for an evening devoted to Nikolai Medtner (1880 - 1951), a master of the Romantic tradition whose music brings together vivid imagination, lyrical beauty and profound emotional depth.

A close friend of Sergei Rachmaninoff and an outstanding pupil of the distinguished pianist and teacher Vasily Safonov, Medtner lived through the turbulence of the twentieth century with a profound commitment to preserving the artistic and spiritual values of the musical tradition and passing them on to future generations.

Medtner was the youngest of three major Russian composers whose music helped shape the early twentieth century: Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin and Medtner himself. A gifted pianist and composer, he remained deeply committed to the artistic and spiritual values of the Romantic tradition.

Yet his voice was unmistakably his own. While remaining rooted in the Romantic tradition, Medtner developed a distinctive musical language in which intricate counterpoint, richly evolving harmonies and recurring musical ideas create a world of remarkable psychological depth and imaginative continuity.

Through piano, violin and voice, this concert explores the many dimensions of the artist’s inner world. The Fairy Tales unfold through vivid musical characters and unexpected turns; the Nocturnes invite us into a world of memory and reflection; and the Vocalise reveals the expressive power of the human voice beyond words.

Featuring New Zealand premieres alongside selected piano masterpieces, this is a rare opportunity to discover Medtner’s distinctive musical language in an intimate concert setting.

The performers

Olga Khomenko - violin

An accomplished violinist and experienced educator, Olga holds a Master’s degree in Classical Performance from the Yekaterinburg State Conservatoire. She has performed with orchestras, opera theatres and chamber ensembles in Russia, Europe and New Zealand. She is a regular member of Bach Musica NZ, the Orchestra Choral Foundation and Wairua Sinfonietta.

Marlēna Keine - voice

An internationally experienced, award-winning vocalist, Marlēna studied at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and Berlin’s Hanns Eisler School of Music. Her operatic career includes performances with the Latvian National Opera and Estonian National Opera.

Natalia Meyta - piano

A pianist and music educator based in Auckland, Natalia completed her Postgraduate studying of Music in Classical Piano Performance at the University of Auckland in 2026. Her research and performance work on Medtner has inspired this concert, bringing the composer’s music to new audiences in New Zealand.

Programme highlights

• Three Nocturnes, Op. 16 - violin and piano

• Two Canzonas with Dances, Op. 43 - violin and piano

• Suite-Vocalise, Op. 41 No. 2 - voice and piano

• Selected Fairy Tales for solo piano

Come and discover music that moves beyond storytelling to reveal something deeply human - the voice of the artist himself.

With sincere thanks to our sponsor:

We are delighted to acknowledge Southern Cross Migration as a sponsor of Music of Nikolai Medtner: Distant, Yet So Close. We sincerely appreciate their support in helping us bring classical music to audiences in New Zealand.

Southern Cross Migration provides personalised immigration advice and support, assisting individuals and families with visas, residency, and other aspects of their journey to New Zealand.

Discover more at southerncrossmigration.com

About the Organiser:

Meyta Music Classes is a music school based in Birkenhead, Auckland, dedicated to sharing the richness of classical music and nurturing musical talent through individual tuition, innovative teaching and performance opportunities. Offering lessons across a range of instruments and voice, the school also organises concerts, masterclasses and music theatre productions, creating opportunities for students and audiences to explore, experience and appreciate the world of music.

Discover more at meytamusicclasses.com