Virtuoso pianist returns to New Zealand

Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 May 2004

Virtuoso pianist returns to New Zealand

“No praise could be high enough for Piers Lane, whose playing throughout is of a superb musical intelligence, sensitivity, and scintillating brilliance."
[Bryce Morrison, Gramophone magazine]

Piers Lane has been a regular guest artist of the Auckland Philharmonia since 1992 and has become a great favourite with audiences. In June he returns as soloist in the seventh concert of the Auckland Philharmonia’s Vero Premier Series, performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto, a piece which combines the “exquisitely lyrical utterances of his smaller pieces with the formal demands and structures of a full-scale concerto”.

Piers Lane’s international career has taken him to more than 40 countries. His repertoire of some 60 concertos has led to engagements with many of the world’s great orchestras, working under conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Richard Hickox, Sir Charles Mackerras, Maxim Shostakovich and Yan Pascal Tortelier. He is a professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music, is a well-known broadcaster for BBC Radio 3, and has an extensive and greatly admired discography.

On the podium for this concert is another favourite with audiences, “the young Peruvian Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who has matinée-idol looks, musicianship, and chops – not a bad combination for a conductor” (Boston Globe). The Auckland Philharmonia’s Music Director, Miguel Harth-Bedoya is one of the most exciting young conductors on the international music scene and was recently a winner of the prestigious Seaver/NEA Conductors’ Award.

Thursday 17 June – 8pm, Aotea Centre
Programme: Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije, Symphonic Suite from the film
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Suite
Adult tickets from $20. Phone the Ticketek Orchestra Hotline on 307 5139.

The Auckland Philharmonia gratefully acknowledges Vero, the major sponsor of this series. The Auckland Philharmonia receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and a major grant from Auckland City.

ENDS

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