Orchestra Wellington celebrates its opening night with New Zealand
star Amalia Hall
Orchestra Wellington’s season opener features a thrilling concerto
performance by Amalia Hall.
The orchestra brightens your midwinter night on June 9th, with two of
the warmest pieces of music written – book-casing one of the great
violin concertos of the 20th century.
In between symphonies by Mozart and Dvorak, the orchestra’s very own
Amalia Hall, performs Bartok’s second Violin Concerto, a piece which
combines dazzling virtuosity with heartbreaking lyricism.
Born and bred in New Zealand, Hall’s numerous competition successes
include laureate prizes at the Joseph Joachim International Violin
Competition in Hannover, the International Violin Competition 'Premio
R. Lipizer', the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young
Musicians, Premio Citta di Padova International Competition for
Soloists and Orchestra, and the Kloster Schöntal International Violin
Competition.
Orchestra Wellington music director Marc Taddei promised big things
when Hall was appointed concertmaster in 2016 – two years on, she’s
playing two concertos in the orchestra’s Great and Noble Season ’18.
The upcoming performance on June 9th will be Hall’s first solo
performance with the orchestra since she took over the reins as it’s
leader last year, following her show stopping world premiere of Claire
Cowen’s “Stark” concerto, which saw her changing costume between
movements.
The Hungarian, Bartok wrote his Violin Concerto No.2 in 1938 as the
shadows of fascism loomed large over Europe. That tension finds plenty
of expression on the music’s rapid twists and turns.
But Bartok’s love of his own country’s folk melodies is never far
away, expressed in romantic melodies, modernistic rhythms and sizzling
virtuosity. The challenge for orchestra and soloist is tying
everything together.
Also on the playlist is a magnificent work by Mozart, his Prague
Symphony. Mozart counted the day he presented this symphony to the
public in 1787 as one of the happiest of his life.
Orchestra Wellington is performing a cycle of Dvorak’s symphonies
during its six concert season starting with Dvorak’s Fifth Symphony.
The work opens with a fanfare scored for clarinets. The finale takes a
dramatic theme reminiscent of Tchaikovsky.
For interviews please contact Penny Miles, publicist, 021 644 800.
ORCHESTRA WELLINGTON presents Golden City
Saturday 9th June, 7.30pm
Michael Fowler Centre
Marc Taddei, music director
Amalia Hall, violin
Mozart Symphony No. 38 ‘Prague’
Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2
Dvorak Symphony No. 5