NOVEMBER 2026 NEW ON NAXOS
About the Pettman Ensemble The Pettman Ensemble is a flexible touring group of musicians from New Zealand and Australia dedicated to performing chamber music from early Classical repertoire to contemporary works. The ensemble collaborates with leading Australasian performers and emerging young artists in a wide variety of chamber music formations. The Pettman Ensemble has appeared throughout New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Europe, with engagements including performances for the Royal Overseas League in London, the University of Glasgow concert series, and Opera North, as well as broadcasts on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune . Recent projects have included recordings of Hummel’s arrangements of Beethoven’s symphonies (Naxos 8.574200) and the chamber music of Ignaz Pleyel (8.574492). The ensemble served as ensemble in residence at The International Akaroa Music Festival from 2023 to 2025, presenting concerts, masterclasses, and collaborative performances with guest artists and young musicians. Alongside its international touring activities, the Pettman Ensemble continues to develop new recording and performance projects across Australasia and beyond.
Wenhong Luo , Edith Salzmann and Curt Thompson © Daniel Ng
Ignaz Pleyel, Composer
‘The Australian-New Zealand Pettman Ensemble delivers interpretations that respect the classical style while also striving to capture the atmosphere for which Pleyel wrote these works. They have succeeded admirably… the five musicians play with a keen feel for this music: stylishly, yet intensely, and above all very spontaneously and with palpable enthusiasm.’ – Pizzicato ‘Well-crafted and bounces right along – tuneful, too… The performances by the Finnish orchestra… under their French conductor- soloist are first-rate: lively, concentrated, polished, and direct.’ – American Record Guide
‘The performances are replete with enthusiasm and momentum and, drawing upon a winning combination of instinct and convention, they evoke not only a distinct personality, but also exhibit poise, coupled with an exceptional sense of vitality and elegance.’ – Fanfare
‘Performed with classically light touch by the young American-based Ensō Quartet, who acquit themselves well on their first recording. Their playing is neat, well balanced and lyrical, and they show a lively and intelligent engagement with the music.’ – Gramophone
WETA CD PICK OF THE WEEK
‘All the soloists… play with conviction and a keen sense of style. The Baltimorians are sufficiently attuned to the needs of Pleyel and to appropriate stylistic turns of phrase that make this a most rewarding release in excellent sound.’ – Audiophile Audition
‘Pleyel is well worth a hearing. These modern-instrument performances are well judged and have plenty of vitality and sensitively chosen tempos, and the Bratislava group play with skill.’ – Gramophone
WETA CD PICK OF THE WEEK
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