French Music Stars Join NZSO For A Night Of Ravel And Strauss

Two French music stars make their New Zealand Symphony Orchestra debut in Wellington and Christchurch with an extraordinary evening of sublime works by French composers Maurice Ravel and Lili Boulanger, and Germany’s Richard Strauss.

Under the baton of the esteemed French conductor Stéphane Denève, and featuring an exceptional performance by French mezzo-soprano Virginie Verrez, the NZSO’s A Hero’s Life in July takes audiences on a captivating musical voyage with a rich and diverse programme.

Verrez, one of the most exciting opera singers of the past 10 years, features in Ravel’s magnificent Shéhérazade, as he draws inspiration from the character of Scheherazade from the Arabian Nights tales, demonstrating his mastery in capturing the essence of captivating narratives.

Strauss’ magnificent Ein Heldenleben (‘A Hero’s Life’) intricately weaves the tale of one hero's path through adversity to find ultimate peace, offering audiences an immersive and evocative narrative experience.

D'un matin de printemps is one of the best-known works by pioneering French composer Lili Boulanger. Before her premature death at 24, she won the Prix de Rome, the first woman to ever receive this prestigious award.

Maestro Denève, hailed as a leading authority in French music, will bring his exceptional artistry and deep affinity for his native France to the performances.

Verrez, a winner of several prestigious vocal competitions, has performed with many orchestras, such as Orchestre National de France, and sung roles including Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.

in the past 12 months she sang the title role in Carmen for Austin Opera and performed in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with a selection of orchestras. This October and November, she makes her debut at legendary Italian opera house La Scala as Flosshilde in Wagner’s Das Rheingold.

Recognised internationally for the exceptional quality of his performances and programming, Maestro Denève regularly appears at major concert venues with the world’s greatest orchestras and soloists.

In 2023, he conducted the Saito Kinen Orchestra in Japan, and was honoured to take part in a special concert in Tokyo for classical music label Deutsche Grammophon’s 125th Anniversary Gala, sharing the stage with his long-time friend, the legendary composer John Williams.

A Hero’s Life
Ein Heldenleben

In association with Summerset Retirement Villages

STÉPHANE DENÈVE Conductor
VIRGINIE VERREZ Mezzo-soprano
L BOULANGER D'un matin de printemps
RAVEL Shéhérazade
R STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben
TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON | Michael Fowler Centre | Thursday 25 July| 7.30pm
ŌTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH | Regent on Broadway | Saturday 27 July| 7.30pm

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