Auck Phily Series continues to serve up gems

A superb line-up of artists and orchestral works is in store for audiences at the third and fourth concerts in the Auckland Philharmonia’s flagship APN News & Media Premier Series.

On Thursday 16 March NATALIA LOMEIKO performs the world première of Christopher Blake’s extraordinary Aoraki Concerto, a piece written especially for her, and the first ever full scale New Zealand Violin Concerto. The concert, conducted by CHRISTIAN KNAPP – who regularly works with many of the world’s great orchestras and is described as a “philosopher with a conductor’s baton” for his interpretative skills – also features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5, one of the greatest symphonies ever written, and Sibelius’s haunting tone poem En Saga.

Two weeks later, on Thursday 30 March, Christian Knapp is again on the podium, with guest soloist FRANCESCO CELATA performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, one of the Auckland Philharmonia’s most frequently requested works. It was the first concerto ever written for the clarinet and is still arguably the best. John Adams’ The Chairman Dances, a work developed from the melodies of his acclaimed opera, Nixon in China, and Beethoven’s joyful Seventh Symphony complete the line-up.

Since immigrating to New Zealand from Russia in 1996, NATALIA LOMEIKO has made her mark on the New Zealand music scene and has become a firm favourite with audiences. She has also established herself on the international stage, winning top prizes in many prestigious violin competitions including the Menuhin (England), Stradivari (Italy), Tchaikovsky (Russia), Paganini (Italy) and New Zealand’s Michael Hill International Violin Competition. She is also known internationally as a regular performing artist and lately as a violin teacher in Spain and Italy.

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Following studies in Amsterdam and Siena, FRANCESCO CELATA returned to Australia in 1991 and has since performed with the major Australian orchestras. He has been with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra since 1993 and has frequently performed as soloist, inspiring a concerto written especially written for him by prominent Australian composer Gordon Kerry. Since 2003 he has performed as guest Principal Clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra.

AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA APN NEWS & MEDIA PREMIER SERIES

Concert 3: Thursday 16 March – 8pm, Auckland Town Hall

Concert 4: Thursday 30 March – 8pm, Auckland Town Hall

Telecom “Let’s Talk Music” (free pre-concert talks) at 7pm in the stalls of the Town Hall

BOOKINGS: phone the Ticketek Orchestra Hotline on (09) 307 5139 or visit http://www.ticketek.co.nz

The Auckland Philharmonia receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and major grants from Auckland City and the ASB Charitable Trust.

ENDS

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