Historic concert for NZSO with popular Brit conductor Sir Andrew Davis
For the first time in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s 69-year history the Orchestra teams up with the NZSO National Youth Orchestra to perform French composer Olivier Messiaen’s hypnotic last work Eclairs sur l’au-delà (Illuminations of the Beyond).
This rarely performed work features a huge orchestra of 123 players consisting of an oversized woodwind section (10
flutes, 10 clarinets), six horns, five trumpets, and 12 percussion parts, including a wind machine and xylorimba (a
cross between a xylophone and a marimba). This is a landmark musical event for New Zealand conducted by one of the
world’s most acclaimed conductors Sir Andrew Davis.
Famous for his humorous speeches at Last Night at The Proms, Sir Andrew Davis is one of today’s most recognised conductors. His career spans more than 40 years and he’s conducted
virtually all the world's major orchestras, opera companies, and festivals. Currently, he is Music Director and
Principal Conductor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He is also a
great fan of Messiaen’s works.
Messiaen had a unique connection with New Zealand. He wove native NZ birdsong into several of his compositions,
including this impressive final work of his, so it will be a real privilege to conduct this wonderful work in a country
which inspired him as a composer.
Sir Andrew Davis.
Eclairs sur l’au-delà is an immense musical meditation in 11 parts, a succession of colourful sound pictures that contain an entire universe,
from 48 different bird songs (including some from New Zealand) to musical suggestions of exploding stars. It is a
mysterious work, of which Messiaen left no explanation. However, his wife Yvonne Loriod, who was asked to explain it to
conductor Zubin Mehta before its 1992 premiere, called it a full and final expression of Messiaen’s creativity, “a work
of faith… which comprises all the discoveries about rhythm, harmony and melody [Messiaen] made in his whole life.”
This unique concert reflects the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s core initiative to nurture young talent. Since its
inception in 1959, the NZSO National Youth Orchestra has played a vital role in providing unique opportunities for the
country’s most gifted young orchestral performers. A total of 113 talented young musicians from all around New Zealand
applied for a position in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra this year.
The NZSO National Youth Orchestra continues to develop because of the passionate and generous contributions of donors,
sponsors and supporters including Denis and Verna Adam who, through their Adam Foundation, have been principal sponsors
of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra for many years.
Illuminations is the ultimate musical experience for those wanting to hear something they may never get the chance to hear live again
- a ground-breaking concert for bird lovers all around New Zealand.
ENDS