New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Magnificent Messiah?
Peter Mechen reviews the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah, featuring New Zealand soprano Madeleine Pierard and three Australian soloists with the Tudor Consort and… Audio
Pierard perfect for Prima Donna
Rufus Wainright, Cindy Sherman and Madeleine Pierard. They all bring a unique view of the world, and they have all come together for Wainright’s Prima Donna: A Symphonic Visual Concert at the Auckland… Audio
NZSO goes to the movies
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra went to the movies this weekend, playing the scores of two famous Hitchcock films Vertigo and Psycho. The music, written by Bernard Herrmann took the audience on a… Audio
Well rounded performance by NZSO?
Peter Mechen reviews the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.24 in C Minor & Elgar’s Symphony No.1 in A-flat conducted by Edo de Waart and featuring pianist… Audio
The final note of a 35 year career
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra violist Brian Shillito got his first taste of orchestra life in 1974, but it wasn’t until 1981 than he returned. He spent the next 35 years playing and travelling with… Audio
MOZART: Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor K491
Pianist Ronald Brautigam with NZ Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart. Recorded 29 October 2016, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert. Audio
ELGAR: Symphony No 1 in A flat
NZ Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart. Recorded 29 October 2016, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert. Audio
The endearing Edo de Waart
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Edo de Waart discusses the final in this year’s season of great works by Mozart, Beethoven and Elgar he is conducting around New Zealand at the moment… Audio
Piano virtuoso to play a Mozart favourite
Dutch piano virtuoso Ronald Brautigam is in New Zealand to perform one of Mozart’s most loved concertos, No 24 in C Minor, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Edo de… Audio
NZSO and London Conchord Ensemble impress
Elizabeth Kerr reviews two significant concerts from the past week. The Bold Worlds concert from the NZSO last weekend featured top violinist Anne Akiko Meyers playing a work written for her by… Audio
The art of double tonguing
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s new associate principal bassoonist Vicky Crowell has played around the world, including on the West End. But earlier this year she made the move to NZ, far from home… Audio
National Treasure turns 70
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra turns 70 in 2017. Chief Executive Chris Blake and Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen discuss how the orchestra will celebrate this milestone. Audio
Bold New Worlds
Foremost American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers brings the most valuable antique violin in the world to New Zealand, to perform a work written especially for her by American composer Mason Bates. She… Audio
Young players steal the show
Mark Donlon from the New Zealand School of Music casts a critical eye over the combined forces of the NZSO and the Rodger Fox Big Band augmented by star trumpeter Allen Vizzutti from the US. Mark has… Audio
Blowing the horn
Former NZSO principal horn player Samuel Jacobs is back to solo with the orchestra this week, playing Mozart's Fourth Horn Concerto conducted by Edo de Waart. It's something of a warm-up for his… Audio
Symphony's storytelling
Peter Mechen reviews The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's Scheherazade featuring Kodaly's Dances of Galánta, Lalo's Cello Concerto performed by international soloist Johannes Moser, and… Audio
The globe-trotting cellist
Global adventurer German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser spends his time playing with some of the largest and most renowned symphony orchestras in the world. This week he makes his debut with the NZSO… Audio
We’re in the money?
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Maggie Barry talks about the Culture and Heritage funding increases announced in last week's budget. We ask why did big name groups including the Royal New… Audio
Did the star billing live up to expectation?
Peter Mechen reviews Stephen Hough plays Brahms, the NZSO's concert with the British piano giant playing Brahms' Second Concerto on tour around New Zealand this week. The concert also includes Gareth… Audio
The captivating conductor
Gustavo Gimeno was born to be a conductor - according to former mentor Mariss Jansons at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra where Gimeno used to be principal percussionist. The endearing young Spaniard… Audio
