HBAF 2023 - Second-Hand Time & Voices at the End

John Psathas and Michael Houstoun present
Second-Hand Time & Voices at the End

Two of New Zealand’s most respected musicians, Arts Foundation Laureate Michael Houstoun, regarded as New Zealand’s leading concert pianist, and internationally acclaimed composer John Psathas, join forces for an extraordinary programme in which they explore some of the most pressing issues confronting our world today.

This unique show is presented in two parts and features Michael Houston on piano as you’ve never heard him before.

Second-Hand Time draws from the documentary work of Adam Curtis, and the writings of Henry Giroux, Brad Evans, Svetlana Alexievich, and Noam Chomsky and combines the emotional power and excitement of Houstoun’s virtuosic musical performance with a cinematic soundtrack and digital script to create this powerful piece.

Voices at the End, inspired by the film Planetary, is a provocative and breath-taking wake-up call; a cross-continental cinematic journey that explores our cosmic origins and our future as a species. John Psathas has adapted this piece with the addition of a brand new full-length synchronised film that weaves around Houstoun’s live performance. It is a poetic and humbling reminder that now is the time to shift our perspective.

The show begins with a rare opportunity to hear the composer in person introducing the works. We welcome and encourage younger audiences to attend.

“Voices at the End was… almost operatic in its reach.” – John Daly-Peoples, NZ Arts Review