NZSO Takes International Stars Around South & North Island

NZSO Takes International Stars Around South Island And North Island at the Same Time

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra splits in two this November to tour the South Island and North Island at the same time.

Acclaimed Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan and returning Australian conductor Ben Northey join forces for In the Hall of the Mountain King tour around the South Island from 21-29 November.

“Rock star” US violinist Stefan Jackiw and Japanese conductor Junichi Hirokami will tour the North Island with a vivacious Italian programme in Tuscan Summer from 20-29 November.

In the Hall of the Mountain King:

Virtuoso Narek Hakhnazaryan is a future superstar. Already hailed a "seasoned phenom" by the Washington Post, and praised for his "intense focus and expressive artistry" by the New York Times, Hakhnazaryan is emerging as one of the most significant young artists on the world stage. Mentored by Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century, Narek was the only cellist invited to travel on behalf of Rostropovich Foundation. In 2011 he was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2011 XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition, the most prestigious prize given to a cellist. Fittingly, he performs Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme in this debut tour with the NZSO. Watch video >

Tchaikovsky wrote his cello and orchestra piece Variations on a Rococo Theme in homage to Mozart. It’s a beloved staple of the repertoire which puts a cellist through a no-breaks-allowed, high-register ordeal. On hearing it, Liszt reportedly declared “This is truly music!”

The concert opens with a popular symphony by Tchaikovsky’s role model Mozart. Symphony No. 31 was composed in the French capital as a crowd-pleasing showstopper for the people of Paris, hence its nickname ‘Paris’. In this popular work, Mozart used an unusually large number of instruments for its day and the clarinet, the exciting new instrument of the day, made its first appearance in a Mozart symphony. Playful, elegant and full of musical surprises, the ‘Paris’ Symphony is atestament to Mozart’s precocious style.

We welcome conductor Ben Northey back to New Zealand to conduct the NZSO in this exciting programme. In February, he led the NZSO National Youth Orchestra concerts in both Wellington and Napier and he led the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings recordings in 2009. A graduate of the Sibelius Academy in Finland, he has been the Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2011. He begins as Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra next season.

Completing the programme are two works by Grieg. The famous Norwegian composer’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 boasts some of the most beloved music in the orchestral repertoire. Its bubbly, recognisable melodies lead the listener through exotic lands and into the terrifying hall of the Mountain King himself. Versions of its short orchestral pieces - Morningand In the Hall of the Mountain King, have appeared in movies, pop songs, advertisements, video games, and rap. The song was even used in a peanut butter advert in Britain, in which the phrase "yum" was set to the music. Watch NZSO video and hear music >

Although not as well known as the Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg’s charming Holberg Suite is praised by music critics world wide.

Enjoy this showcase of much-loved works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Grieg and appreciate the talents of two rising stars in the classical music world.

Tuscan Summer:

Concert opener - Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville, is the epitome of Italian music. It’s sunny and giggly and roars with energy. One of the most loved and best recognised works in the classical/opera repertoire, thanks in part to its use in countless movies, commercials, and even a Bugs Bunny cartoon, it is one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music. Listen to famous Overture theme here >

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto remains a gold standard among violin works. Technically fearsome to play, with its dancing themes that won’t settle, it was instantly popular when it premiered in 1845, and still remains so. In the hands of American violin star Stefan Jackiw - described by the Los Angeles Times as a “rock star”, this lyrical score will sweep you off your feet.

Jackiw made his professional début at the age of 12. He’s since performed across Europe and the United States, notably appearing with the Boston, Cleveland, Chicago and San Francisco symphonies and the New York Philharmonic. Around 30 million viewers watched his 2011 online performance of this concerto in Sydney with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra and he has been described as a “legend in the making” (Chicago Tribune).

One of the miracles and mysteries of music is how the exceptionally gifted young performer can renew the art by making you hear unexpected things in music you've known longer than they've been alive, by making you feel the music as freshly and intensely as you did when you were first discovering it. Violinist Stefan Jackiw can do this. Boston Globe

Another great work by Mendelssohn features in this concert series. Mendelssohn was a wide-eyed young traveller new to Italy when he started composing his Symphony No. 4 in A major, commonly known as the Italian. Inspired by the colour and atmosphere of Italy, Mendelssohn wrote his symphony during a prolific tour of Europe when he also composed his ScottishSymphony No. 3 and orchestral overture The Hebrides.

Leading our tour is Japan’s Junichi Hirokami whose impressive reputation precedes him. He is Chief Conductor of the Kyoto Symphony and has guest conducted the Vienna Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw, among other major international orchestras.

In the hands of this acclaimed conductor, Britten’s Soirées Musicales, an orchestral arrangement of piano pieces by Rossini, revels in dance rhythms and demonstrates Britten’s orchestral mastery and tongue-in-cheek sense of humour.

NZSO: In the Hall of the Mountain King

BEN NORTHEY conductor

NAREK HAKHNAZARYAN cello

MOZART Symphony No. 31 ‘Paris’
TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme
GRIEG Holberg Suite
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No. 1

WELLINGTON / Michael Fowler Centre / Friday 21 November / 6.30 pm
TICKETEK / 0800 842 538 / TICKETEK.CO.NZ

BLENHEIM / Floorpride Civic Theatre / Saturday 22 November / 7.30 pm
TICKETDIRECT / 0800 224 224 / TICKETDIRECT.CO.NZ

INVERCARGILL / Civic Theatre / Wednesday 26 November / 7.30 pm
TICKETDIRECT / 0800 224 224 / TICKETDIRECT.CO.NZ

DUNEDIN / Town Hall / Thursday 27 November / 7.00 pm
TICKETDIRECT / 0800 224 224 / TICKETDIRECT.CO.NZ

OAMARU / Opera House / Friday 28 November / 7.30 pm
TICKETDIRECT / 0800 224 224 / TICKETDIRECT.CO.NZ

CHRISTCHURCH / Horncastle Arena / Saturday 29 November / 7.00pm
TICKETEK / 0800 842 538 / TICKETEK.CO.NZ

www.nzso.co.nz

PRE-CONCERT TALK: David Gilling, NZSO Sub-Principal Second Violins, will interview conductor Ben Northey at the free pre-concert talks inside the venues, 45 minutes prior to each concert

ENDS

© Scoop Media