Spectacular Drumming Showcase at Fire-Wind-Water

MEDIA RELEASE
March 14, 2007

Spectacular Drumming Showcase at Fire-Wind-Water Concert

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
AK07: Fire-Wind-Water, 5pm, Sunday 25 March, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE

Music lovers can expect to be thrilled by some thunderous drumming at the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Fire Wind Water concert on Sunday 25 March, presented by the Auckland Festival, AK07.

The concert will feature five of Australasia’s top percussionists performing on an exotic array of drums and percussion with one of the works featuring all five percussionists on stage at the same time.

“To have five percussionists of this calibre on stage together is a very special and rare occasion,” says APO Chief Executive, Barbara Glaser. “This is going to be a drumming extravaganza with a programme that will engage audiences beyond the classical.”

The three works being performed at Fire-Wind-Water are Gareth Farr’s Rangitoto, Toru Takemitsu’s From Me Flows What You Call Time and John Adams’ Harmonielhre. It will be the first time the Takemitsu (Japan) and Adams (USA) works have been performed in New Zealand.

The five percussionists performing at the concert are: Robert Clarke, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist; Timothy Constable, from the Sydney-based Synergy percussion ensemble; Gary France, Head of Percussion, Australian National University; Lenny Sakofsky, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra principal percussionist; and Bruce McKinnon, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist.

Sourcing the percussion instruments for the work has been somewhat of an exotic treasure hunt for the APO with the instruments required including Japanese temple bowls, Chinese winter gongs, steel drums and an angklung. A generous grant from the Century Foundation Ltd has ensured all the required instruments were found in time for the concert.

AK07: Fire-Wind-Water, Sunday 25 March, 5pm, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE.
Bookings: Ticketek Ph 09 307 5000. Tickets $40-$95 (booking fee will apply).

ENDS

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