Clarissa Dunn takes you to the best seat in the house for tonight’s live New Zealand Symphony Orchestra concert from the Michael Fowler Centre, featuring pianist Stephen De Pledge with the NZSO conducted by Gemma New.
Live 7.30 pm Thursday 19 September 2024.
New Zealand Composer Lyell Cresswell Photo: Gareth Watkins
Stephen de Pledge Photo: Kelley Eady-Loveridge
Stephen De Pledge has long championed Kiwi contemporary music, commissioning Lyell Cresswell’s first piano concerto. Cresswell completed his third piano concerto, sending it to De Pledge in late 2021, several months before he died. In tonight’s broadcast Stephen De Pledge and the NZSO give the world premiere of Lyell Cresswell’s final work.
Flanking the piano concerto is Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring depicting a wedding day in rural Appalachia, and after the interval, Mozart’s much-loved final symphony, Jupiter.
COPLAND: Appalachian Spring
CRESSWELL: Piano Concerto No 3 (World Premiere)
Interval – Bryan Crump talks to Stephen De Pledge about his long association with Lyell Cresswell and his music.
MOZART: Symphony No 41 in C K551, Jupiter
(RNZ)
