New Zealand First For Classical Music

March 29, 2007

New Website Initiative A New Zealand First For Classical Music

Classical music lovers around the world will benefit from a unique website initiative announced today by Radio New Zealand and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

For the first time, complete “live” New Zealand classical music performances will be available as free podcasts or downloads for worldwide audiences.

The performances are selected from Radio New Zealand’s recordings of complete concerts in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2006 subscription series and will be hosted monthly as music downloads on New Zealand’s leading radio website www.radionz.co.nz . The move is significant for the music world as this is the first time rights have been made available to podcast New Zealand classical music.

Launching the new podcast service, Radio New Zealand Chief Executive, Peter Cavanagh, said the initiative extended the audience for quality New Zealand classical music by providing outstanding performances that are not otherwise commercially available.

“Each month Radio New Zealand Concert will feature an Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra concert performance which will be available exclusively through the Radio New Zealand website. Those podcasts will be in addition to our usual full concert broadcasts.

“This important new initiative with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra will mean that music lovers are now able to listen to some of the country’s finest classical music whenever and wherever they happen to be. It adds immeasurably to the range and value of programming available from Radio New Zealand’s website”.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Chief Executive, Barbara Glaser said she was delighted that the orchestra is the first in the country to break new ground by being available via podcasting.

“In broadcasting the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra throughout the country, Radio New Zealand already gives us a national platform” she said. “But this new initiative affords us a worldwide profile and even greater access for our listening public. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra takes great pride in being a music leader and this exciting initiative with Radio New Zealand adds another string to our bow.”

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra podcasts will run monthly from Monday, April 2nd, commencing with one of classical music’s best-loved pieces, Dvorak’s Symphony No 9, “From the New World” with Italian conductor, Vittorio Parisi.

ENDS

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