NZSO and West Endstars to create American musical

7 July 2010- NZSO Media Release

NZSO and West Endstars to create American musical magic!

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and stars of London’s West Endwill bring Broadway’s golden age to dazzling musical life in Aucklandand Wellingtonnext month, with the hit show The World of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

West End singers Jacqui Scott and Andrew Halliday will perform best-loved songs from Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Carousel, The King & I andThe Sound of Music, accompanied by the Orchestra in a perfect concert for musical theatre fans.

The programme includes popular classics Some Enchanted Evening, My Favourite Things, Edelweiss, Climb Every Mountain andSurrey with a Fringe on Top,as well as orchestral pieces from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s legendary shows.

Acclaimed entertainer Jacqui Scott is a leading lady of the West End, with key roles in Evita, Cats andMiss Saigon as well as numerous TV appearances and three solo albums under her belt.

Andrew Hallidaymade his West Enddebut as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. He has performed in countless stage musicals, including playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Munkustrap in Cats and Brad in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Leading the NZSO is British conductor Martin Yates, who has two decades of experience as musical director of many of the West End’s most important shows.

As well as working with respected UKorchestras like the London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic, he regularly conducts the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. As an accompanist, Martin Yates has worked with international classical stars Jose Carreras, Bryn Terfel and Yo-Yo Ma.

The World of Rodgers & Hammersteinis an entertaining celebration of Broadway’s most successful song-writing duo of all time, combining the symphonic brilliance of Richard Rodgers with Oscar Hammerstein’s unforgettable lyrics. It is sponsored by Sunday Star-Times in association with Phonak NZ Ltd.

Join the NZSO for a show-stopping, toe-tapping night of musical magic!

For more information and interviews, please contact NZSO Publicist Leah McFall:

Tel 04-801-3833
Mob 0275-745-294
Email leahm@nzso.co.nz

www.nzso.co.nz

The World of Rodgers & Hammerstein

Sponsored by Sunday Star-Times
In association with Phonak NZ Ltd

New ZealandSymphony Orchestra & West End International

Martin Yates conductor
Jacqui Scott andAndrew Halliday

Wellington Michael Fowler Centre / Fri 6 August / 8pm
Book at TICKETEK / 0800 842 538

Auckland Aotea Centre / Sat 7 August 8pm / Sun 8 August 2.30pm
Book at THE EDGE/ 0800 289 842

Fast Facts

• Richard Rodgersand Oscar Hammerstein were the dream team behind the golden age of the Broadway musical, 1943 to 1959

• Richard Rodgers published 900 songs and wrote 40 Broadway musicals. He began his career in musical comedy

• Oscar Hammerstein withdrew from law school to pursue a career in musical theatre. Surprisingly, he was considered a has-been until he paired with Rodgers, with whom he wrote nine musicals

• Together they revolutionised the musical theatre genre, beginning with Oklahoma ! in 1943

• Oklahoma ! was the first musical to use music and lyrics to advance character and plot. Before this, music was merely incidental to the story

• Their musicals tackled social issues like racism, sexism and domestic violence

• Between them, their shows won 34 Tony Awards, 15 Oscars, 2 Grammys, 2 Emmys and 2 Pulitzer Prizes

• Time magazine declared them among the top 20 most influential artists of the 20th century

• Andrew Lloyd Webber once wrote that their partnership has never been equalled, and probably never will be

• Oklahoma!, The King & I, South Pacific, Carousel and The Sound of Musicwere all made into successful films

• Jacqui Scottwas the youngest ever winner of the popular BBCtalent series “Rising Stars”, aged just 15

• She starred in the original production of smash hit Chess, returning to perform the lead role for its tenth anniversary at the invitation of Tim Rice

• Andrew Hallidayhas performed with leading orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony and the Hallé Orchestra. He has appeared in TV and films

• Martin Yatesis one of the few conductors to successfully combine an international career in classical music and musical theatre. He is also a pianist and composer

• He has worked extensively with orchestras in the UKand Europeand made his Carnegie Hall debut this season

• He makes regular appearances conducting with the Royal Ballet and Royal Swedish Ballet, and the national ballet companies of the Netherlands, Finlandand Norway. His opera productions include Tosca, La Boheme and Madame Butterfly

• This year he conducts London’s flagship Proms in the Park at Hyde Parkfor the third time

ENDS

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