Sensational Cellist Makes NZ Debut With NZSO In October

One of the world’s most talked about cellists makes his Aotearoa debut with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra this month to perform one of the greatest works written for the instrument.

The extraordinary Austrian Kian Soltani, hailed by The Times as a “remarkable cellist” and by Gramophone magazine as “sheer perfection”, will play Antonin Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the NZSO in Wellington (23 October) and Auckland (24 October).

Affirmation: Dvořák & Brahms also sees the return of phenomenal Australian conductor Simone Young, considered one of the finest 21st-century interpreters of Richard Wagner. The concerts will open with the prelude to Wagner’s opera Lohengrin.

Johannes Brahms’ triumphant Second Symphony, one of the greatest symphonies ever written, completes this unforgettable evening.

Soltani’s playing is characterised by a depth of expression, sense of individuality and technical mastery, alongside a charismatic stage presence and ability to create an immediate emotional connection with his audience.

The revered soloist plays with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors and is a popular and highly regarded recording artist. In 2017 he signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon and his first album Home, comprising works for cello and piano by Schubert, Schumann and Reza Vali, was released to international acclaim.

Soltani has since recorded albums including Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the Staatskapelle Berlin and conducting and piano legend Daniel Barenboim, who has been integral to his career.

The cellist has said he approaches all the great works written for cello as personal to him and to audiences. “Everyone should discover the music for themselves. I think that is the characteristic of a genius masterpiece, is when it works for everyone. Everyone can find something in it.

“I don’t try to compare myself with anyone who has played the piece before. As long as you present truthfully what you feel is the intention of the composer, I think you cannot go wrong.”

Soltani was born to a family of outstanding Persian musicians. His late mother Farzaneh Navai was a famous Iranian harpist. His father Khosro Soltani plays the bassoon, flute and Persian wind instruments the ney, duduk and sornay.

He studied from age 11 with Ivan Monighetti, a cellist who himself studied with one of the greatest cellists of all time, fellow Russian Mstislav Rostropovich.

Simone Young, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, stunned New Zealand audiences with her previous concerts with the NZSO in 2015. She was hailed as “fabulous” by Wellington’s The Post and “Potent” by the New Zealand Herald.

Over a groundbreaking four-decade career, she has become one of the world’s most sought-after conductors. Her achievements range from top orchestras and prestigious opera houses, including the Met in New York, La Scala in Milan and the legendary Bayreuth Festspielhaus, where last year she became the first woman and first Australian conductor to conduct Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

“Simone Young’s conducting is a revelation, crisp, clear, and forward moving, stripping away the Wagnerian excess to reveal the drama at its core,” The Guardian declared.

Such are her achievements, in 2023 the conductor was the subject of a feature-length documentary Knowing the Score, executive produced by Cate Blanchett who played a conductor in the film Tár.

“I think of myself like a sports coach: I bring it all together,” Young’s said about conducting.

Soltani will also host an NZSO Foundation masterclass for aspiring cellists in Wellington on 22 October. More information is at nzso.co.nz

Tickets are available via nzso.co.nz and ticketmaster.co.nz

COMING UP

Four Seasons – conductor and violinist Pekka Kuusisto, Wellington (9 Oct) & Christchurch (11 Oct)

Symphonic Dances – conductor Gemma New, saxophonist Jess Gillam, Wellington (20 Nov), Christchurch (22 Nov)

Joyce DiDonato Summer Nights – conductor Gemma New, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, Wellington (28 Nov), Auckland (29 Nov)

Summer Brass – conductor Gail Williams - Wellington (5 Dec), Kāpiti (6 Dec), Whanganui (9 Dec), Napier (10 Dec), Rotorua (11 Dec), Hamilton (12 Dec), Tauranga (13 Dec)

Affirmation: Dvořák & Brahms

SIMONE YOUNG Conductor

KIAN SOLTANI Cello

WAGNER Lohengrin Prelude to Act 1

Supported by The Wagner Society of New Zealand

DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto

BRAHMS Symphony No. 2

TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON | Michael Fowler Centre | Thursday, 23 October | 6.30pm

TĀMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND | Town Hall | Friday, 24 October| 7.30pm

Kian Soltani appears with generous support from Suan and Donald Best ONZSM.

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