Media Release
for immediate release
3 June 2005
Miguel's swansong as Music Director
Miguel Harth-Bedoya, the Auckland Philharmonia's Music Director since 2000, is nearing the end of his contract, and will
conduct his last concert as Music Director of the orchestra on Thursday 23 June, during the orchestra's flagship Vero
Premier Series.
Maestro Harth-Bedoya has built up an assured rapport with the Auckland Philharmonia over the years, and audiences and
critics who have witnessed his presence on the podium have been consistently full of praise. He has been described as
flamboyant, charismatic, dynamic, and one of the few conductors in the world who could double for Ricky Martin! This
concert, however, is not the last chance audiences will have of seeing the maestro as he will be returning regularly in
the future as a guest conductor of the Auckland Philharmonia.
This concert will be memorable for other reasons - the concert programme, and American soprano Jessica Rivera. Hailed as
a shining soprano whose voice possesses shimmering clarity, Jessica Rivera has been lauded by the Los Angeles Times for
being "highly accomplished, fully equipped and most promising".
Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss were the titans who led Romantic music into the 20th century and created masterworks
that have conquered audiences for the last hundred years. All his life, Strauss was in love with the soprano voice and
wrote song after song with it in mind - Jessica Rivera sings six of his best songs for soprano. The second half of the
concert features the great Fourth Symphony by Mahler, which gains its huge popularity from its sunlit music and its
final song-movement, contemplating Heaven through the eyes of a child.
Auckland Philharmonia Vero Premier Series, Concert 8
Thursday 23 June - 8pm, Auckland Town Hall
Miguel Harth-Bedoya (conductor), Jessica Rivera (soloist)
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail Overture
R.Strauss: Selection of Songs for Soprano: Das Rosenband, Op.36/1; Wiegenlied, Op.41/1; Ruhe, meine Seele, Op.27/1;
Morgen, Op.27/4; Muttertändelei, Op.43/2
Mahler: Symphony No.4
Adult tickets from $23; concessions available (service fees apply). Phone the Ticketek Orchestra Hotline on 307 5139 or
visit www.ticketek.co.nz.
The Auckland Philharmonia receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and a major grant from Auckland City.
ENDS