The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has formerly announced a new name for New Zealand's leading chamber orchestra; the
NZSO Chamber Orchestra (formerly the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra). Dame Silvia Cartwright was also named as Patron for
the orchestra. This was announced, last night in Wellington, at the NZSO Chamber Orchestra's launch of the sensational
and much anticipated debut CD from Australia's leading young soprano, Emma Matthews.
The NZSO Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1987 from leading players of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. It generally
performs without a conductor, directed from the first violin chair by Music Director Donald Armstrong.
The NZSO Chamber Orchestra performs regularly with distinguished international soloists, who have included the great
German tenor Peter Schreier, leading Mozart interpreter, fortepianist Malcolm Bilson, cellist David Geringas, and the
English pianist Richard Rodney Bennett.
In 2002 the NZSO Chamber Orchestra will play its own series of three concerts in Auckland and Wellington, and individual
programmes will figure in subscription concerts elsewhere. Watch out, for Australia's guitarist Slava Gregoryan,
brilliant soprano Emma Matthews, and American based violinist Gilles Apap, as well as Donald Armstrong, NZSO flutist
Bridget Douglas and bassist Dale Gold.
The NZSO Chamber Orchestra will provide a healthy dose of baroque, and early classical period music, contrasted by the
expanded string version of Mendelssohn's Octet, the famous Vivaldi Four Seasons, two early pieces for string octet by
Shostakovich and Schoenberg's ultra romantic Verklarte Nacht.
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