Dazzling Pianism as Kempf Zooms Into Town

24th April 2007

Media release

NB - THERE ARE TWO MEDIA RELEASES CONCERNING THIS CONCERT SERIES.

DAZZLING PIANISM AS KEMPF ZOOMS INTO TOWN

This May, 29yr-old international pianist, Freddy Kempf will make his debut with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in concertos by Beethoven and Prokofiev. A performer since a very young age, the Englishman looks forward to indulging his private passion of driving while in the country.

Kempf won England's National Mozart Competition at the age of 10, also won the BBC Young Musician of the Year at the age of 15, and then made history at the 1998 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow when he did not win first prize (he came third).This caused a national outcry from the Russian press and provoked protests from the audience.

Proclaimed "the hero of of the competition" his popularity has seen him become a key player on the international solo circuit ever since. Born and raised in London - he has a German father and a Japanese mother - piano has been his life since he was four years old, but Kempf's private passion is for driving cars - very fast. He always looks forward to returning to his Berlin base so he can give his new Audi an outing on the autobahn!

Kempf continues to thrill audiences with his dexterity and maturity of interpretation. Musicweb's Marc Bridle called him "a musician with his feet firmly rooted on the ground" yet beneath his normality lies "a Mad Professor act" (as one Hague music reviewer called him) that manifests itself through his dazzling skill.

Kempf will perform Beethoven's lyrical yet majestic Fourth Piano Concerto in the Beethoven series of concerts throughout the North Island. This special series will also introduce renowned conductor Jaap van Zweden to NZ audiences.

Recently announced as the new music director for one of the top American orchestras, the Dallas Symphony, this Dutch maestro caused a sensation in 2006 with an exhilarating performance with the DSO that dazzled musicians and critics alike:

"Sell the farm, mortgage the children, cancel the cruise. Do what you have to do to get to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's concerts this weekend. You'll see the familiar faces onstage. But something miraculous has happened: The DSO is playing like one of the world's greatest orchestras. That's apparently the work of guest conductor Jaap van Zweden," said the Dallas Morning News, just a year later the orchestra announced his appointment. He already holds the music directorship of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.

More than any other composer, Beethoven speaks clearly in every country and to every generation - his music signifies the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. Van Zweden has recorded a complete Beethoven symphony cycle for Philips Classics as Chief Conductor of the Residentie Orchestra and these concerts will showcase the triumphant Fifth Symphony.

PROGRAMME
BEETHOVEN SERIES

WELLINGTON Thursday 10 May 6.30pm, Michael Fowler Centre
NAPIER Tuesday 15 May 8pm, Municipal Theatre Preconcert talk 7.15pm
HAMILTON Thursday 17 May 8pm, Founders Theatre Preconcert talk 7.15pm
AUCKLAND Friday 18 May 6.30pm, Town Hall

BEETHOVEN Fidelio Overture
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No 4
BEETHOVEN Symphony No 5

JAAP VAN ZWEDEN Conductor
FREDDY KEMPF Piano

Beethoven's opera Fidelio, linked readily with the composer's enlightened French Revolutionary zeal. Yet the task proved difficult. "The whole business of opera is the most distressing thing in the world" Beethoven suggested shortly before the premiere in 1805. Only in 1814, after two re-workings, did the final version materialise, with its new Fidelio Overture. The Fourth Piano Concerto (1806) and the humanist optimism of the Fifth Symphony (1808) may well have puzzled Beethoven's contemporaries, but are much admired these days.

SECOND MEDIA RELEASE

WILL YOU LEAVE WITH YOUR HAIR STANDDING ON END?

"According to the one eyewitness report, concertgoers at the 1913 premiere of Sergi Prokofiev's second Piano Concerto were 'frozen in fright, hair standing on end', and when the piece was over, those who hadn't already walked out beat a hasty retreat."

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra introduces piano maestro Freddy Kempf to Auckland and Wellington audiences performing Prokofiev's second piano concerto this May.

James McQuillen from The Oregonian said of Kempf's Prokofiev performance, "... rather than make for the exits, Kempf's 2005 performance with the Oregon Symphony saw the audience stay to give a long and very enthusiastic standing ovation for his performance".

This exciting concerto is married with Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony and will be conducted by Jaap Van Sweden. One of the most hotly disputed pieces of the 20th century, this popular symphony marks Shostakovich's turn to a more accessible style of writing. Because of its more direct style, the work has sparked controversy over what was Shostakovich's motive. Perhaps it was because the Fifth Symphony, premiered in 1937, was written at the height of Stalin's terror and with this came life or death consequences.

The Fifth Symphony was Shostakovich's first artistic attempt to try to survive in Stalin's oppressive system. Terrorized audiences found consolation, comfort and hope in the work that Stalin approved.

In contrast the orchestra will present the first of its 2007 commissions; Alas How Swift for Trumpet and Orchestra by New Zealand School of Music resident composer, Lyell Cresswell, performed by NZSO Principal Trumpet, Michael Kirgan.

Talking recently, Cresswell was delighted at the suggestion of writing for trumpet and for Mike Kirgan. "My first musical experiences involved brass instruments, so writing for trumpet has a lot of resonance for me. So far I have written a trombone concerto and a short work for horn and strings - maybe a work for trumpet and orchestra is the next logical step. The title is one I couldn't resist for some fast music."

Find out more about this work on May 12 in Wellington at the Michael Fowler Centre when the orchestra will present the first of four 2007 ticketed public open rehearsals. This is a unique opportunity go behind the scenes and witness working life of the orchestra, soloists and conductors. Proceeds for this rehearsal to benefit the Alex Lindsay Memorial Award**

PROGRAMME

WELLINGTON Saturday 12 May 8pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Preconcert talk 7.15pm
AUCKLAND Saturday 19 May 8pm, Town Hall Preconcert talk 7.15pm

CRESSWELL Alas! How Swift Commission for Trumpet and Orchestra
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No 2
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No 5

JAAP VAN ZWEDEN Conductor
FREDDY KEMPF Piano
MICHAEL KIRGAN Trumpet

Tickets from Ticketek

Open Rehearsal
Saturday 12 May,10am-12.30am, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Jaap Van Zweden and Freddy Kempf

**Tickets for the open rehearsal are $12.50 and are available in advance through our Client Services department on 0800 479 674.

ENDS

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