New soloist, new concertmaster, new year at APO

New soloist, new concertmaster, new year at APO

A former child prodigy and a new concertmaster help Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) launch its 2014 season.

Violinist Chloë Hanslip, who at 13 became the youngest person ever to sign to the Warner Classics label, joins the APO as soloist for the Thursday 20 February performance, the first of this year’s The New Zealand Herald Premier Series concerts. Now aged 26 and a formidable presence on the international concert circuit, Ms Hanslip performs John Corigliano’s concerto ‘The Red Violin’.

The contemporary American composer is a speciality of APO Music Director Eckehard Stier, who conducts. Corigliano is flanked by two great composers of earlier eras: Richard Wagner and Igor Stravinsky. The evening opens with the overture to Wagner’s opera Die Meistersinger and closes with Stravinsky’s sparkling ballet Petrushka.

As well as being the APO’s first town hall event of the season, the concert marks the Auckland debut of the orchestra’s new Concertmaster, Andrew Beer. Mr Beer joins the APO from the Montreal Symphony, one of North America’s most famous orchestras.

“We’re delighted that Andrew is joining the APO family,” says the orchestra’s Chief Executive, Barbara Glaser. “The appointment of a new concertmaster is a major undertaking and Andrew is a musician of international calibre. We have an exciting programme, conducted by our Music Director and featuring a renowned soloist – it’s a perfect concert to introduce Andrew to our audience and celebrate the opening of the 2014 season.”

WHO: Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, with Eckehard Stier and Chloë Hanslip
WHAT: The New Zealand Herald Premier Series: Gala Opening, featuring the music of Wagner, Corigliano and Stravinsky
WHERE: Auckland Town Hall
WHEN: 8pm, Thursday 20 February
BOOKINGS: www.ticketmaster.co.nz / 0800 111 999
MORE: apo.co.nz/concert-events/gala-opening

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