Orchestra Wellington presents “What Love Tells Me”

Orchestra Wellington presents “What Love Tells Me”

Bianca Andrew, mezzo soprano
Marc Taddei, Music Director

Haydn: Symphony No.82, C major, The Bear
Mahler arr. Leeuw: Kindertotenlieder
Mozart: Symphony No. 40, K.550, G minor

Masterton: Friday June 20
Kapiti: Saturday June 21
Wellington: Sunday June 22

Wellington mezzo soprano Bianca Andrew has attracted glowing reviews and a wide following for her ravishing voice and charismatic stage presence. Orchestra Wellington audiences will be eagerly awaiting her June performances of Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder before her singing career takes her to London’s Guildhall.

Between 1901 and 1904, Mahler set five poems written by the German poet Rückert in response to the death of two of his children. Mahler gave these poems some of his most beautiful music, filled with tenderness and longing. He weaves in a theme from one of his symphonic movements titled “What Love tells me” – an affirmation of love that endures beyond death.

Mozart’s penultimate symphony in G minor is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever written. Right from its very opening bars with their restless, ever-moving quavers, this symphony is driven by a perfect balance of passion and intellect.

The concert opens with one of Haydn’s “Paris” symphonies, named “the Bear”. Before the witty references to bag-pipes and bear dancers in the last movement, the symphony has plenty of other delights, with its constant inventiveness and graceful phrases.

Orchestra Wellington: What Love Tells Me

Masterton: Friday, June 20, Masterton Town Hall; 7pm
$35 Adult / $10 Child (still at school)
Tickets from Ticketek (www.ticketek.co.nz), 0800 842 538; Service fee will apply.

Kapiti: Saturday June 21 Southwards Car Museum 6pm
$35 Adult / $10 Child (still at school)
Tickets from Dash Tickets (www.dashtickets.co.nz), 0800 327 484; Service fee will apply.

Wellington: Sunday June 22 The Opera House 4pm
Tickets from Ticketek (www.ticketek.co.nz), 0800 842 538; Service fee will apply.

Free pre-concert talk with Music Director, Marc Taddei, and guest(s) at Wellington 3pm, Masterton 6pm, Kapiti 5pm.

For more information visit www.orchestrawellington.co.nz

About Bianca Andrew
Born in Wellington, Bianca Andrew is considered one of New Zealand’s most promising young singers, and was a Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist with NZ Opera in 2012/13. She graduated from the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) with a Bachelor of Music and Postgraduate Diploma of Music, under the tutelage of Margaret Medlyn. She has a particular interest in French music, and as part of her university studies travelled to Paris to research the life and vocal music of Francis Poulenc.

A consummate singer and actress, Bianca has performed a wide variety of operatic roles. Her repertoire includes Lucette: Cinderella (Gertrude Opera Melbourne); Kate Pinkerton: Madame Butterfly (NZ Opera); Settler 4/Ensemble: Hōhepa (NZ Opera); Bradamante: Alcina; Modestina: The Journey to Rheims; Cherubino: The Marriage Of Figaro (Days Bay Opera); Anna: The Seven Deadly Sins; (Opera/Fabula); Oberon: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and Ino: Semele (NZSM)

She is a popular concert soloist around New Zealand, and has enjoyed appearing as mezzo soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis (Orchestra Wellington); Mozart’s Requiem (Voices Chamber Choir NZ); Berlioz’ Les Nuits d’Été (Wellington Youth Orchestra); Bach’s Magnificat (Auckland Choral Society); and Mozart’s arrangement of Handel’s Messiah (Voices Chamber Choir NZ).

Bianca is a grateful recipient of several scholarships, including the Victoria University Les and Sonia Andrews Cultural Foundation Scholarship, the Moyra Todd Memorial Scholarship, the Rotary Club of Wellington Music Prize for classical music, and the Dame Malvina Major Foundation High Achiever's Award in 2010, 2011 and 2013. She has also been generously supported by the Lankhuyzen/Whetu-Kairangi Masonic Trust in 2012 and 2013.

ENDS

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