3 May 2001 Bassoon recital at Lincoln University

Residents of the townships around Lincoln University are invited to join staff and students to hear the musician credited with single handedly elevating the bassoon from the back ranks of the symphony orchestra to the honoured position of solo instrument.

Bassoonist George Zukerman, a British-born Canadian, has been referred to as the "high priest" of his instrument and he comes to Lincoln University's Memorial Hall with Australian-born, New Zealand resident pianist Cecilie McShane for a recital at 12.40pm on Thursday 10 May.

Presented by Lincoln University Music Society, the concert features Beethoven, Sonata No 1 in F Major, Opus 5 (from the original for cello and piano), Adagio-Allegro-Adagio (interpolated from the Sextet Opus 71) -­ Allegro; Gabriel Pierne, Concert Piece Opus 35 for Bassoon and Piano; Elliot Weisgarben, Thoughts of an ancient Japanese melody for solo bassoon; and Rossini, Introduction, Theme and Variations (from the Wind Quartet No 6).

Since 1996 George Zukerman has toured in South Africa, Africa, North America, China and Canada. In February this year he was in Gibraltar ("playing to the Barbary apes") and before that he was in London.

During the past four decades he has unearthed extensive repertoire for the bassoon from the 18th and 19th centuries including a concerto believed to be one of several missing Mozart works for the instrument.

Admission is by gold coin.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.