Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Summer 2017 Vol.38 No.1 Your free copy THE RITE WAY Stravinsky’s ground- breaking work STARMAN’S LEGACY Singers pay tribute to Bowie THE RISE OF PUCCINI MODERN The breakthrough success of SOUNDS Manon Lescaut MAHAN ESFAHANI AND THE NEW AGE OF THE HARPSICHORD 03492_NZH_APO_BrandAd_A4.pdf 1 10/08/16 4:38 PM nzherald.co.nz All that matters in Entertainment CONTENTS FRONT DESK Upfront with Barbara Glaser 3 APO News 4 FEATURES Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra PO Box 7083 Wellesley St Auckland 1141 Hip Harpsichord 8 Breaking Sacred Ground 12 Phone (09) 638 6266 Mahan Esfahani shines new light on this Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring rewrites the Fax (09) 623 5629 early instrument rules of music APO Ticketing (09) 623 1052 Email [email protected] Website apo.co.nz Facebook facebook.com/aporchestra Twitter @aporchestra Instagram aporchestra Phil News Summer 2017 Editor Tiana Lyes Cover Mahan Esfahani by Bernhard Musil/Deutsche Grammophon A Walk in the Park 11 Salute to a Star 14 Creative Your guide to APO’s Grand Day Out Kiwi singers pay tribute to the legend Design at Gibbs Farm of David Bowie Printing APO Behind the Scenes 16 Forces of Nature 21 Paper Sponsor A photo essay by APO photographer A cross-cultural spectacle of dance Phil News printed on Adrian Malloch and music Tauro Offset 100gsm; cover 300gsm The Breakthrough Opera 18 My Great Listen 23 Patrons Puccini and the triumph of Manon Lescaut Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE Stefan Dohr Dame Catherine Tizard, ONZ A Musical Paintbox 20 Sir James Wallace, KNZM Emerging composers seek inspiration Me & My 24 Dame Rosanne Meo, DNZM from visual art Oboe – Bede Hanley Vice Patron Offstage 26 Dame Jenny Gibbs, DNZM Bella Zilber dresses for success Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Board Geraint A. Martin (Chairman) CODA Penelope Peebles (Deputy Chair) Leigh Auton Crescendo News 29 Richard Ebbett Friends News 31 Neil Haines Kieran Raftery Foundation News 31 Eric Renick Concert Calendar 33 Julian Smith apo.co.nz 1 At Ogilvy & Mather, we focus on creating harmonious connections between people, products and brands across a world-class ensemble of communications practices and practitioners. To understand the difference we could make to your business or cause, email greg.partington ogilvy.co.nz Proud Platinum Partner of Auckland Philarmonia Orchestra Advertising I 485 Design I Continuous Commerce I Geometry Global | Ogilvy Change I Social Ogilvy OV0458 Philarmonia Orchestra Print Ad - A4_F.indd 1 12/01/16 12:03 pm From the Chief Executive Image: Adrian Malloch Adrian Image: UPFRONT WITH BARBARA GLASER As this issue of Phil News goes to print, we our own musicians throughout the magazine, are busy making an extraordinary adjustment whether it’s upcoming solo performances, to our concert programme on 3 May: making off-stage talents, or even behind the scenes. space for the inclusion of Stravinsky’s recently Late last year we commissioned long-time APO rediscovered piece Funeral Song. Until late photographer Adrian Malloch to document life last year, the work had not been heard since in an orchestra and everything that happens the score was lost following its first and only before the players take to the stage on concert performance in 1909, and now the APO will night. It’s a fascinating insight into the hard have the privilege of performing the Australasian work and dedication to the craft that goes into premiere of this work. every performance, and we’re pleased to share When ‘old’ music becomes ‘new’ again, some of our favourite images with you in this it’s an exciting time for orchestras. For a long latest issue. You can also read more about a time, Funeral Song was known solely through few of our featured musicians, Section Principal the mixed reviews of its lone performance, Oboe Bede Hanley on page 24, and Associate with one critic describing it as “the lament and Principal Bass Bella Zilber on page 26. moaning of a heart against the backdrop of a Of course, one former APO musician that sombre landscape”. But as we all now know, needs little introduction to readers is John Ure. Stravinsky’s music, revolutionary for its time, He has been with the orchestra since it formed has matured into some of the most beloved in 1980, and since then has touched every facet pieces in the classical repertoire. The Rite of of the organisation, from the stage, to the board Spring has advanced from a riot at its premiere to the administration. After 36 years John retired to a work that consistently thrills audiences from the APO in December, and while it’s today; and although Funeral Song may not be certainly a large adjustment for all of us without the earth-shattering masterwork The Rite has John firmly embedded in the APO woodwork, become, any time we can hear our greatest it’s a well-earned rest and we wish him a happy composers with new ears and open minds, retirement! If you missed your chance to pass it’s a wonderful gift. You can read more about on your well-wishes to John, we’ll be bringing Stravinsky’s legacy on page 12. him back to formally say goodbye at our Bayleys Speaking of musical legacies, January Great Classics concert ‘Hanslip Plays Mozart’ 2017 marked one year since the death of on 23 February. David Bowie. While Bowie’s musical language There are some wonderful concerts coming and his impact on popular culture might up this season, and we hope this issue also seem at first glance to be foreign territory entices you to try something new – whether At Ogilvy & Mather, we focus on creating harmonious to an orchestra, this is music that can’t be it’s a harpsichord concerto, new compositions pigeonholed, and we’re looking forward to inspired by great New Zealand artworks, or a connections between people, products and brands across a taking audiences on a symphonic odyssey cross-cultural dance and music spectacle. world-class ensemble of communications practices and practitioners. of this legendary musician. So too, are the Have a great start to 2017; I look forward Kiwi artists we’ve enlisted to help us present to seeing you in the concert hall throughout To understand the difference we could make to your business or cause, this concert; you can read more about their the year. email greg.partington ogilvy.co.nz thoughts on the Starman on page 14. Phil News is a wonderful place for our supporters to get closer to the orchestra, and you’ll see we’re increasingly highlighting Proud Platinum Partner of Auckland Philarmonia Orchestra Advertising I 485 Design I Continuous Commerce I Geometry Global | Ogilvy Change I Social Ogilvy apo.co.nz 3 OV0458 Philarmonia Orchestra Print Ad - A4_F.indd 1 12/01/16 12:03 pm APO NEWS As a young man in 1973, John sold his first race car (a ‘59 Mini Seven) to buy his first horn. In 1980 he was a founding member of the APO when a group of upstart musicians decided to form one of the world’s few player-run Malloch Adrian Image: orchestras. It was a radical move at the time; backlash from The Listener called them “reds under the bed”. The new orchestra thrived and John was not only Principal Horn, but quickly took up the roles of Personnel Manager, Operations Manager, and Artistic Manager. Few people realized he played an important role in programming, earning him accolades from NZ Herald music critic William BYO COMPANION Dart as the “APO’s secret weapon”. Introducing young people to the thrill In December 2016, APO Director John’s most cherished memories of a live orchestra has never been of Operations John Ure retired with the APO include performing easier, with the APO offering a Young after 36 years with the APO. John the Britten Serenade in the Companion ticket for the first time was a founding musician of what inaugural concert; Verbitsky inviting in 2017. was then known as the Auckland him to the podium for a solo bow Adults or seniors with a full price Regional Orchestra when it formed after a masterful performance of ticket to a main series concert can in 1980, serving as Principal Shostakovich 10; and his recording bring a guest under 16 years old for Horn for 18 Years. He was also of David Hamilton’s Horn Concertino free. APO Chief Executive Barbara a founding member of both the being an Air New Zealand in-flight Glaser says it’s a great development board and the administration, and listening selection for over five years. to APO’s commitment to nurturing last year he was made a Member When pressed on what he’ll young music lovers. “We’re very of the New Zealand Order of Merit miss most about his job, John gives proud of our comprehensive APO for services to music. his trademark grin. “The players of Connecting programme which aims to course – they are the chocolates at engage young people with orchestral APO Players Society secretary and the chocolate factory – they are an music. Giving them the opportunity to sub-principal horn player Carl Wells orchestra’s most important item!” attend a mainstage concert for free spoke to John ahead of his retirement. True to his nature, John’s planning on is just one more way we can open up As APO musicians come to terms using his retirement to spend more this wonderful world of music to them,” with the retirement of our beloved time practising the horn, performing she says.