Orchestra Wellington’s Big Reveal

Orchestra Wellington’s Big Reveal

Orchestra Wellington launched its 2016 season at its final subscription concert last Saturday, [Saturday Dec 5] revealing at last what music they will perform.

Dates and soloists were given at the orchestra’s previous concerts, and now the full programme can be announced.

The theme for 2016 is “Last Words” and each of the six subscription concerts will feature the final orchestral works of a great composer.

We are generally fascinated by the last thing that anyone does, Orchestra Wellington Musical Director Marc Taddei says. “This fascination is given greater intensity when the person is a great artist,” Taddei says. “With these final masterpieces, there is huge poignancy in contemplating the process of development. It speaks to the fundamental nature of creativity and how this unfolds over a lifetime.”

Odes to Joy.

11 June 2016, 7:30pm Michael Fowler Centre

The orchestra opens its 2016 season with a real blockbuster, Beethoven’s last orchestral masterpiece, the Ninth Symphony, featuring Jenny Wollerman, Soprano, Elisabeth Harris, Alto, Henry Choo, Tenor, Warwick Fyfe, Bass, and the Orpheus Choir of Wellington. This profound and monumental work is paired with Haydn’s cello concerto in C, a last work in that the manuscript was lost until recently. Gisborne International Music Competition winner Rustem Khamidullin will be the cello soloist for this.

2. Capriccio

16 July 2016, 7:30pm Michael Fowler Centre

The last works of Richard Strauss fill the second programme: excerpts from his last opera Capriccio and two late chamber works, the deeply felt Metamorphosen for strings and the magnificent extended fanfare for brass and timpani, the Festival Music for the City of Vienna. Anna Leese is the soprano soloist for Strauss’ poignant, wise and nostalgic opera, written as he saw his society collapse.

3. Mozart

20 August, 2016, 7:30pm Michael Fowler Centre

Mozart’s music forms the third programme. Once again Orchestra Wellington welcomes the Orpheus Choir to join them for the hauntingly beautiful Requiem. There are familiar voices again among the soloists: Emma Fraser, Soprano, Elisabeth Harris, Alto, Henry Choo, Tenor and James Clayton, Baritone. The choir will also present Mozart’s serene motet, Ave Verum. The Hong Kong Philharmonic’s principal clarinet Andrew Simon will join the orchestra to play Mozart’s clarinet concerto, one of the greatest concertos for any wind instrument.

4. To the Memory of an Angel

10 September 2016, 7:30pm Michael Fowler Centre

Gustav Mahler died while writing his Tenth Symphony having completed the opening movement, the Adagio. It is a passionate testament of love, betrayal and hope. Orchestra Wellington pairs the Adagio with another work linked to Mahler: Alban Berg’s elegaic Violin Concerto “In Memory of an Angel”, written on the death of Alma Mahler’s daughter. Former NZSO concertmistress Wilma Smith returns to New Zealand to perform as soloist. The concert finishes with Schubert’s powerfully life-affirming Symphony No 9 in C Major, “The Great”.

5. Nutcracker

15 October 2016, 7:30pm Michael Fowler Centre

After completing a tour of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies, the orchestra is primed to perform some of Tchaikovsky’s other great achievements, his ballet music. The score to the Nutcracker contains some of his most perfect gems. It is preceded by Berlioz’ late overture to “Beatrice and Benedict,” which he described as “a caprice written with the point of a needle”. The great Michael Houstoun continues his partnership with the orchestra, performing Bartok’s final Piano Concerto, which Bartok wrote on his death-bed as a sort of love-letter to his concert pianist wife Ditta.

6. Planets

3 December 2016, 7:30pm Michael Fowler Centre

Orchestra Wellington finishes 2016 in grand style with Holst’s magnificent orchestral suite The Planets. Full of colour, excitement, and well-loved tunes, it is sure to bring the year to a triumphant close. Holst is paired with up and coming New Zealand composers in their commissioned works for the orchestra. Leading New Zealand violin soloist Amalia Hall will perform a concerto by Claire Cowan which promises to be highly theatrical. There will also be a new work by David Long featuring his own guitar performance, video footage by David Downes and animatronics by Jim Murphy.

The orchestra continues its outreach to communities and schools, with 18 schools taking up the opportunity to hear Beat it! Blast it!, a fun educational chamber music group playing programmes developed by Education Composer in Residence Thomas Goss.

Orchestra Wellington will be busy in other roles around the city. In March it makes an appearance at the New Zealand International Arts Festival playing John Luther Adams’ Sila: Breath of the World. As usual the orchestra will be accompanying opera, ballet and choral events throughout the year.

Meanwhile, the pricing structure for main series concerts promises more of the same successful formula that has kept its concert halls well-filled this year. Until March 31, people can buy subscription packages for two to six concerts that see ticket prices massively reduced.

2016 SUBSCRIPTIONS

Save: Take advantage of our Subscriber price when you book 2 or more Wellington
concerts within the subscription series(Concerts 1–6).

The more concerts you book, the moreyou will save!

Seats: All Subscribers are given accessto best available seating, prior to going
on sale to the public.

Questions: Should your booking require special needs call Orchestra Wellington on 04 801 7810 (10am–4pm, Monday–Friday).

Online Bookings: This booking process can also be completed on our website
www.orchestrawellington.co.nz

Subscription bookings close on 31 March 2016 4pm

Subscription(s)

6 Concerts x $29 ea. $174

5 Concerts x $36 ea. $180

4 Concerts x $42 ea. $168

3 Concerts x $48 ea. $144

2 Concerts x $54 ea. $108

Note - Single ticket after 31 Mar 2016: Adult $60, Gold Card $50

/ENDS

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