A Great Orchestra, A Great Journey

A Great Orchestra, A Great Journey

Presented by: Guinness Peat Group Plc

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra opens a spectacular Season 2003 with intrigue, controversy, hatpins and rubber bands. With NZSO Music Director James Judd on the podium, the orchestra will perform a mix of fantasy and classicism in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and, after a six-year absence, Invercargill.

After his successes in New Zealand in 2001, Australian pianist, Roger Woodward performs a fascinating group of contrasting piano works. As part of the Great Classics series, the Beethoven Third Piano Concerto is paired with the witty surprise and refreshing sounds of Concerto for Prepared Piano and Chamber Orchestra, by controversial American composer, John Cage. Cage inserted various objects like rubber bands, hatpins, and woodscrews turning the piano into a percussion orchestra or 'prepared piano'.

The concert opens with Weber's fizzy overture to his opera, Der Freischutz, and is topped off by Bartok's wonderfully sensuous and violent Miraculous Mandarin that so shocked its first audience in 1927 with its story of prostitution and death.

The second concert as part of the Great Orchestra series salutes leading NZ composer David Farquhar with the world premiere performance of his Symphony No. 3 'Remembered Songs' in his home town of Hamilton.

The complete virtuosity of Liszt's fiendishly difficult Totentanz (Dance of Death) for piano and orchestra, coupled with the turmoil of Berlioz's impassioned fantasies in his richly-orchestrated Symphonie Fantastique makes an electrifying opening to the season.

James Judd, Music Director of the NZSO, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, maintains a busy schedule of international engagements. Maestro Judd received acclaim for the highly successful NZSO Season 2002 opening tour with star violinist Vadim Repin, and his performances of Mahler's Third Symphony. He continues to build the NZSO's reputation through his musical vision and dynamic leadership.

Roger Woodward is one of the foremost international musicians of our time. He has performed at major international festivals and concert venues as well as with all the major orchestras under such renowned conductors as Pierre Boulez, Lorin Maazel and Georg Tintner. He last performed with the NZSO in 2001.

PROGRAMME GREAT CLASSICS March, Friday 21, 6.30pm, Michael Fowler Centre WELLINGTON March, Friday 28, 6.30pm, Auckland Town Hall AUCKLAND

What an opening to the Season! A fizzy overture, classical piano concerto, touch of controversy from John Cage and Bartok's sensuous and 'gory' 'Miraculous Mandarin'. James Judd conductor Roger Woodward piano WEBER Der Freischütz: Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 CAGE Concerto for Prepared Piano BARTOK Miraculous Mandarin GREAT ORCHESTRA

A salute to leading NZ composer, David Farquhar and two of the most attractive and devilish works to do with death. Originally hailing from Waikato, Farquhar's commission will receive its world premiere at the NZSO Hamilton concert.

March, Thursday 27, 8pm, Founders Theatre HAMILTON March, Saturday 29, 8pm, Auckland Town Hall AUCKLAND

April, Thursday 3, 8pm, Town Hall CHRISTCHURCH April, Saturday 5, 8pm, Michael Fowler Centre WELLINGTON

James Judd conductor Roger Woodward piano FARQUHAR NZSO Commission LISZT Totentanz BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique

April Wednesday 2, 8pm, Theatre Royal INVERCARGILL What an opening to the Season! The NZSO returns to Invercargill after a six year absence with a fizzy overture, classical piano concerto, and one of the most attractive and devilish works to do with death.

James Judd conductor Roger Woodward piano WEBER Der Freischütz: Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique

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