Violin Virtuoso Janine Jansen Returns to Perform with NZSO

A musical tour de force returns to perform with the NZSO

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed violinists in the world returns to perform with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in November.

Janine Jansen will perform Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in Wellington and Auckland in concerts also featuring works by Brahms and Wagner.

Jansen, one of classical music’s most downloaded instrumentalists and a household name in her native Netherlands, had near sell-out performances in Auckland and Wellington with the NZSO in 2015.

“In a concert, you aim to do the best possible performance but it's also about taking risks … Something very special can happen,” she said on her 2015 tour.

Critics described her 2015 performances of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the NZSO as “breath-taking”.

“Janine Jansen is a superstar on the classical music scene and, given that the world is awash with stunning young string players, that is no small achievement.” The Dominion Post.

“This young Dutchwoman … effortlessly justified the reputation most know only through recordings.” The New Zealand Herald.

Jansen has been praised for her performances of Sibelius’ compelling Violin Concerto, including a concert with Royal Scottish National Orchestra last year. “Her interpretation was mesmerising, triggering goosebumps,” said music website Bachtrack.

NZSO Music Director Edo de Waart conducts Janine Jansen plays Sibelius as part of his Masterworks series. “She is a fantastic musician – one of the Netherlands’ best. She is an outstanding performer and violinist. It’s always a great joy to perform with her,” he says.

Jansen’s international profile took off in 2002 after performances in London. She was soon performing with the world’s top orchestras and landed an exclusive recording contract with Decca Classics. The violinist was dubbed “queen of the downloads” for her popularity in the digital music charts. Her 2005 recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons debuted at No. 5 in the US classical charts.

The violinist’s numerous awards include receiving the Netherlands’ Edison Klassiek Award four times, the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist Award for performances in Britain, the Dutch Music Prize, the Concertgebouw Prize, and the Bremen Musikfest Award.

After her NZSO tour, Jansen performs in Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the US, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, before Christmas.

Maestro de Waart will open Janine Jansen plays Sibelius with Johannes Brahms’ remarkable Symphony No. 3 in F major. Inspired by the motto, ‘Free but Joyful’, Symphony No. 3 is one of the composer’s most loved works. Its warm and romantic third movement has been used for the basis of songs by Frank Sinatra, Serge Gainsbourg and Carlos Santana.

Equally joyful is Richard Wagner’s astonishingly beautiful symphonic poem Siegfried Idyll, written as a birthday present for his beloved wife Cosima.

Janine Jansen Plays Sibelius

EDO DE WAART Conductor

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 in F major

WAGNER Siegfried Idyll

SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D minor

WELLINGTON - Michael Fowler Centre, Friday 10 November, 6.30pm

AUCKLAND - Town Hall, Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm.

ENDS

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