NZSO: Sorcery, Sensuality And Subversion

NZSO: Sorcery, Sensuality And Subversion

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra celebrates the return of esteemed conductor, Yoel Levi, with one of the year's most dramatic programmes in Auckland; two vivid Russian works separated by sorbet - a highly enjoyable Mendelssohn piano concerto, featuring NZ pianist, Diedre Irons.

Stephen Kovacevich, world-renowned Beethoven interpreter.

Yoel Levi is Music Director Emeritus of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for whom he built an enviable reputation. He conducts throughout Europe, Canada and the US, including the New York Philharmonic. He made his NZ debut in 2001 to fine reviews.

The sorcery of Mussorgsky's famous Night on Bare Mountain, which was written to celebrate the witches Sabbath, can only be surpassed by the immense, unforgettable score of Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony, which depicts "Bloody Sunday" - that shameful day of 9 January 1905, when the Tsar's troops fired at will upon unarmed demonstrators in Palace Square, St. Petersburg. Both works complement the high spirited, fast-moving Mendelssohn Piano Concerto. This concert will be performed on Friday, 2 July at the Auckland Town Hall.

Diedre Irons was born in Winnipeg, Canada. She made her first solo appearance with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12. After graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, she taught there and toured extensively in Canada and the United States. She moved to New Zealand in 1977 and has since become a vital part of the New Zealand music scene, performing with the NZSO, Auckland Philharmonia and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

The second concert, which will be performed on Saturday 3 July at the Town Hall, features world-renowned Beethoven interpreter, Stephen Kovacevich, who returns to New Zealand to perform Beethoven's lyrical yet majestic piano concerto, Piano Concerto No 4.

'Perhaps nobody else can play the piano with this degree of precision and turn it to such musically intense ends' The Independent, December 2002

Stephen Kovacevich is one of the worlds' foremost pianists. Following his stunning concerts here in 2002, he returns to dazzle audiences with his flair and musicianship. A prolific recording artist, he has won many international awards for his Beethoven and Brahms interpretations.

This concert also features music from the heart of the repertoire. Mozart's delightful Haffner Symphony before leading onto the Romantic world of Robert Schuman with his First Symphony that expresses the same sentiments as the Romantic literature he so admired.

PROGRAMME

NEW ZEALAND SYMPONY ORCHESTRA

SUBSCRIPTION TOUR 3

Friday 2 July, 6.30pm TOWN HALL AUCKLAND

Yoel Levi returns with one of the year's most dramatic programmes - two vivid Russian works separated by sorbet - Mendelssohn's highly enjoyable piano concerto. Even the gothic soundscape of one of Mussorgsky's best-known works is surpassed by the immense, unforgettable score of Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony.

Yoel Levi conductor Diedre Irons piano MUSSORGSKY Night on the Bare Mountain MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto in G Minor SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No 11 'The Year 1905'

Saturday 3 July, 8pm TOWN HALL AUCKLAND

Welcome returns from both Yoel Levi and Stephen Kovacevich in this concert of music from the heart of the repertoire. Mozart's delightful 'Haffner" Symphony heralds the most lyrical of Beethoven's piano concertos and leads to a 'brief encounter' and then on to the Romantic world of Robert Schumann

Yoel Levi conductor Stephen Kovacevich piano MOZART Symphony No 35 Haffner BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No 4 in G SCHUMANN Symphony No 1 Free pre-concert talk: Auckland: 3 July, 7.15pm, Concert Chamber (Town Hall) - Martin Lodge on Schumann

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