Yehudi Menuhin called him the Violinist of the 21st Century, Gilles Apap is known for presenting the classics to world acclaim, and for morphing masterpieces like Mozart’s G Major Violin Concerto into styles of music taken from around the world.

Gilles Apap is the concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra. His talent in incorporating different styles of music as diverse as gypsy fiddling and classical repertoire has found him performing all over America and Europe. After his success here in 2002, he returned with a new programme to perform with the NZSO Chamber Orchestra.

Apap’s soloist performance with the NZSO Chamber Orchestra in the Auckland Town Hall on Friday November 7 brought spice, sheer brilliance, and mischievous humour to a fascinated audience.

Apap connects with his audience with a relaxed unconventional style, far from the tuxedo-clad sterotype, this Violin Soloist breaks all barriers. He often turns his back to the audience and plays to his accompanying orchestra. All the while, his stage presence keeps that personal connection with those captured by the pureness of his tunes.

While presenting renditions of sheer majesty, Apap strolls through the theatre. It is a rare treat to hear and see a master violinist up-close and breathing. It is enriching.

His classical introduction to Mozart’s G Major Violin Concerto, drew familiarity from his audience, Apap then used this as a comparative as he performed styles from around the world. Blues, Bluegrass, Irish Folk, Hindi were all included into this soloist showcase.

Other soloist highlights were the moving tones of Bartok’s Romanian folk dances, Kreisler’s Praeludium and Allegro in the Style fo Pugnani.

NZSO’s Chamber Orchestra performed Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3.

For details of other classical performances, visit the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s website at www.nzso.co.nz

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