Great Russian Virtuoso Returns

13th October 2006

Great Russian Virtuoso Returns To Finnish Charming Nz Audiences

Gramophone Magazine described Vadim Repin as "among the most gifted of younger Russian-born violinists". Whilst there are many fine fiddle players gracing the world's stages, not all have something compelling to say. Repin most certainly does. An extraordinary technique matched with a searing musical intelligence, his exclusive New Zealand performances of some of the greatest Romantic violin concerti are not to be missed!

This highly anticipated return of Vadim Repin sees him performing the sumptuous music of Sibelius and Beethoven under the baton of the extraordinarily talented Finnish conductor, Susanna Mälkki.

"Vadim Repin was the soloist in Sibelius' Violin Concerto, whose towering lyricism was accompanied by Gergiev's extremes of speed and phrasing." Tom Service The Guardian, August 21st 2006

Vadim Repin's international career began at 17 after winning the most prestigious and demanding violin competition in the world, the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Since then he has appeared with the world's greatest orchestras and carved out a stellar career. In Strings Magazine, Edith Eisler describes Repin's "spectacular technique, a virtuoso's natural flair without a virtuoso's mannerisms or exaggerations. His tone is radiantly beautiful, warm, variable, and powerful...", Eisler continues, "what is most captivating about his playing is his innate feeling for the music, his unerring sense of style, and his irresistible charm."

A multi award winning recording artist, his prize-winning recordings on the Erato/Warner Classics label include the Sibelius concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra under Emmanuel Krivine. He has recently been awarded a Gramophone Award 2006 for the recording of Taneyev - Chamber Music with Ilya Gringolts, Nobuko Imai, Lynn Harrell and Mikhail Pletnev on Deustche Gramophone.

New Zealand audiences will be introduced to the extraordinary talent of Finnish conductor, Susanna Mälkki, who is continuing to make her impressive mark on European and American audiences. Recently named as the Music Director of L'Ensemble Intercontemporain, the cutting-edge contemporary music ensemble founded by Pierre Boulez, Mälkki is also known for her powerful interpretations of core symphonic repertoire.

She will conduct Stravinsky's classic Firebird, with its magic and mystery, glitter and sparkle, which the composer conducted in a 1961 impromptu performance in New Zealand. In the second concert she will conduct Mahler 5 - arguably the most well known Mahler symphony to the general public. The famous Adagietto movement from this symphony was used as the theme for the film Death in Venice and also features on Beauty Spot, the NZSO¹s much talked-about, best-selling CD.

Mälkki appropriately will also conduct the winner of the 2006 Douglas Lilburn Prize, the successful composition competition run by the NZSO and Concert FM. In 2005, New Zealand composers were invited to enter a newly composed eight to twelve minute symphonic score. From the many entries received, a judging panel chose five finalists. These works have all been recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hamish McKeich, and broadcast on Concert FM. The winner has been chosen and will be announced at the Wellington 27th October concert - broadcast live around the country.

PROGRAMME

Subscription Series 6 One of the greatest talents to come out of Finland in recent years is conductor Susanna Mälkki. She conducts star soloist Vadim Repin in the Sibelius Violin Concerto on his much awaited return visit to New Zealand. Mahler's journey towards optimism in the 5th symphony - with the adagietto written as a love letter to his future wife - was made famous in Visconti's movie Death in Venice.

Friday 27 October at 8.00pm Michael Fowler Centre Wellington

Susanna Malkki- Conductor Vadim Repin- Violin Lilburn Competition: Winning Entry 2006

Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor Op 47 Mahler: Symphony No 5 in C# Minor

Subs 6, series 2: (Malkki) Submal Once heard, never forgotten, Beethoven's romantic Violin Concerto offers music of such beauty you want it to go on and on forever. One hundred, or so, years later Stravinsky dazzled audiences with the exotic, shimmering beauty of The Firebird, which became a classic - he even conducted an impromptu performance of it in New Zealand in 1961.

Saturday 4 November at 8.00pm Michael Fowler Centre Wellington Preconcert talk 7.15pm

Susanna Malkki- Conductor Vadim Repin- Violin

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major Op 61 Stravinsky: Firebird Ballet

www.nzso.co.nz

ENDS

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