Magnetic French Conductor Returns

26 August 2004

Magnetic French Conductor Returns To Play Up A Storm In association with Montana

Charismatic French conductor, Yan Pascal Tortelier is hailed as one of the most exciting conductors to emerge from Europe in recent years. His 11 year tenure as Principal Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic saw him conduct regularly throughout the UK with appearances at the BBC Proms and leading festivals around Europe.

During his long-awaited return to New Zealand, Tortelier will conduct the NZSO in Auckland for performances of Tchaikovsky's impassioned final symphony, 'Pathetique' on Friday 17 September and on Saturday 18 September, Stravinsky's astonishing and hypnotic Rite of Spring - a work that caused a riot at its first performance and then changed the course of music forever.

Tortelier's recent performances [of the Rite of Spring] drew rave reviews; in February 2002 the Times said "a thrilling account of this masterpiece ....he caught the primitive, elemental power of the hammering chords and encouraged every instrument to shriek and growl to full effect." And the Guardian exclaimed, "...a startling, electrifying performance."

Born into an intensely musical family, son of the late Paul Tortelier, Yan Pascal studied piano and violin from the age of four and at 14 won first prize for violin at the Paris Conservatoire. Following general musical studies with Nadia Boulanger, Tortelier studied conducting with Franco Ferrara in Siena. He has gone on to conduct leading orchestras throughout Europe, the US, Japan and Australia. He last conducted the NZSO in 1994.

2002 Gramophone Award winning pianist, Stephen Hough will also feature in Auckland, on Friday 17 September, performing Saint-Saëns lively Fourth Piano Concerto. Hough was described by the Washington Post as "a virtuoso who begins where others leave off". He is a recent recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and a unique presence on the international concert scene. He makes his NZSO debut with this tour.

These concerts will also incorporate Berlioz' colourful Les Franc-Juges Overture and the NZSO's debut performance of Dukas' Polyeucte - a work that Tortelier recorded with the BBC Philharmonic and was awarded the prestigious Diapason d'Or in 1994.

PROGRAMME SUBSCRIPTION SERIES 5 - SPONSORED BY MONTANA

Saturday 18 September, 8pm TOWN HALL AUCKLAND

Yan Pascal Tortelier conductor DUKAS Polyeucte DEBUSSY Nocturnes STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

Friday 17 September, 6.30pm TOWN HALL AUCKLAND

Yan Pascal Tortelier conductor Stephen Hough piano BERLIOZ Les Franc-Juges - Overture SAINT SAENS Piano Concerto No 4 TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No 6 'Pathétique'

Book at Ticketek Tickets from $20 www.nzso.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media