New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Experience Has Something for Everyone

2020

TE TIRA PUORO O AOTEAROA From Kerikeri to Invercargill, the NZSO ventures into the heart of New Zealand communities with concerts and other unique musical experiences. 2020 is the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth and your national orchestra celebrates this beloved composer with performances of some of his greatest works. Highlights include the rarely performed Missa Solemnis and a special performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as part of Carnegie Hall’s international collaboration All Together: A Global Ode to Joy. The Podium Series continues to present contemporary works alongside the tried-and-true. Mozart, Haydn and JS Bach rub shoulders with Prokofiev, Bartók and Rachmaninov, with Kiwi composers delivering musical taonga of and for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Audiences will be treated to some of the biggest names in classical music with Marin Alsop, Donald Runnicles and Esther Yoo joining the NZSO for the first time. YouTube sensation Valentina Lisitsa, Alexander Shelley, Johannes Moser and Augustin Hadelich return in 2020. NZSO Experience offers something special for New Zealanders. Shed Series brings innovative and unique music to communities in relaxed environments, while the Baroque Series presents works from the extended Bach family. Beyond the concert hall, NZSO Engage is all about music and community. With a host of performance, education and community activities, Engage gets you closer to your Orchestra than ever before. NZSO’s new residency programme, Setting up Camp, takes the NZSO to locations across the North Island, performing concerts and taking up residence for several days to bring music to your town. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra doesn’t just do concerts, it reaches beyond the stage to bring music to all New Zealanders. Enjoy. Podium Series 6 Mavericks 12 Devotion 14 Emperor 16 Provocateurs 18 Idyllic 20 Rebels 22 Spirit 24 Passion 26 Inspiration 28 Eroica 30 Monumental 32 Metamorphosis 34 Timeless 36 Spectacular 38

Ticketing 40

NZSO Experience 48 Shed Series 52 NZSO Setting up Camp 60 NYO Leningrad 62 Kia Kotahi 64 Baroque Series 66 Messiah 68

NZSO Engage 70

Elspeth Gray and Katherine Rowe, Second Violin It is my pleasure to introduce the 2020 season The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s 2019 of the NZSO, Aotearoa’s national Orchestra. Beethoven Festival was a resounding success. The exciting line-up of concerts reflects the For our 2020 Season, the 250th anniversary of depth and diversity of live symphonic music the Beethoven’s birth, we’re excited to present more Orchestra is bringing to our cities and towns. of his great music, along with works by other From North to South, the NZSO makes world- renowned composers and a superb array of soloists class orchestral music accessible to audiences and conductors. throughout our country. The Season includes Beethoven’s timeless In 2020 our Orchestra brings together Ninth Symphony – but in a way never before heard in past and present, combining Bach with newly New Zealand. The performances are part of a unique commissioned works. Connecting New Zealand international project All Together: A Global Ode to with the world, it brings together artists and works Joy, instigated by Carnegie Hall and led by acclaimed from around the globe. American conductor Marin Alsop. Kia Kotahi: He Toirangi Ā-Ao Kia Harikoa The international guests in 2020 are some of the concerts are a great example of this. Beethoven is most exceptional and talented in the world today. We given new life with a te reo Māori performance welcome back maestros Osmo Vänskä, Vasily Petrenko of the iconic Ninth Symphony Ode to Joy performed and Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and the NZSO debut of six- with school and youth choirs. In the spirit of the time Grammy Award winner Giancarlo Guerrero. Ninth, this concert also unites Aotearoa New Audiences were enthralled by cellist Johannes Zealand with the global community – with other Moser and violinist Augustin Hadelich in 2018. performances in local languages to be held in They’re back, along with star pianist Valentina Lisitsa Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the NZSO premiere of the extraordinary pianist Australia, Austria and South Africa. Alongside Yeol Eum Son. Beethoven, audiences will hear four new Maestro Edo de Waart, as our Conductor New Zealand works showcasing the musical talent Laureate, also returns, and with him the exceptional our country proudly fosters. singer, Erin Wall. I acknowledge the talent and dedication of Another highlight is the NZSO debut of New the musicians. I also extend a warm welcome to the Zealander Gemma New, hailed as a leader among international and guest artists joining the NZSO this a new generation of conductors. Our hit Shed Series, season, including acclaimed young New Zealand initiated by NZSO Principal Conductor in Residence conductor Gemma New. To the Orchestra, and to the Hamish McKeich, will be even bigger in 2020 and many other people who make their performances includes our first concerts in Auckland. possible, I wish you a successful 2020 season. More communities around the country can also enjoy our popular Baroque Series with the Bach Hon Carmel Sepuloni Extended tour and as part of an innovative new ASSOCIATE MINISTER FOR ARTS, CULTURE residency programme, Setting up Camp. The NZSO AND HERITAGE will meet and perform to schools, youth and community groups during the day, as well as perform each evening. It’s a fresh new way for us to engage with all New Zealanders and we’re very excited to see where it takes us. As we tour from Kerikeri to Invercargill in 2020, we look forward to seeing you.

Christopher Blake QSO TE KAIHAUTŪ O TE TIRA PŪORO O AOTEAROA NZSO CHIEF EXECUTIVE

6 TIm Watson Photo: 7 Podium Series Podium Series 2020 marks 250 years since Beethoven’s birth and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra celebrates his legacy with performances of some of his greatest works. The much-loved Eroica, Fifth and Pastoral symphonies, the Emperor Piano Concerto and other seminal works will be heard in concert halls across the country. Though Beethoven remains the common thread throughout the season, the Podium Series offers something for all music lovers. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Haydn’s Tempora Mutantur, JS Bach’s Toccata and Fugue, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth symphonies all feature in 2020. The NZSO brings some of the best classical artists to our shores. International conductors Alexander Shelley, Donald Runnicles, Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop and Osmo Vänskä feature alongside world-class musicians. Organist Cameron NEW Carpenter, violinists Augustin Hadelich and Esther Yoo, cellist Johannes Moser and pianists Valentina Lisitsa and Yeol Eum Son are just some of the musicians you’ll see in 2020. With subscription packages from just $48, why ZEALAND not subscribe for yet another year of outstanding music-making by your orchestra – the New Zealand SYMPHONY Symphony Orchestra. ORCHESTRA PODIUM SERIES 9 Jenaro Garita, Viola 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Page AUCKLAND WELLINGTON CHRISTCHURCH DUNEDIN TAURANGA NAPIER HAMILTON TAUPO KERIKERI GISBORNE

Mavericks 12 Fri, 20 Mar, Sat, 21 Mar, 7.30pm 7.30pm

Devotion 14 Sat, 4 Apr, Fri, 3 Apr, 7.30pm 6.30pm

Emperor 16 Fri, 22 May, Thu, 21 May, Wed, 22 Apr, Fri, 24 Apr, Thu, 23 Apr, 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm

Provocateurs 18 Sat, 27 Jun, Fri, 26 Jun, 7.30pm 6.30pm

Idyllic 20 Thu, 2 Jul, Tue, 30 Jun, Fri, 3 Jul, Wed, 1 Jul, 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm

Rebels 22 Sat, 25 Jul, Fri, 24 Jul, 7.30pm 6.30pm

Spirit 24 Fri, 7 Aug, Thu, 6 Aug, 7.30pm 7.30pm

Passion 26 Sat, 5 Sep, Sat, 29 Aug, Wed, 2 Sep, Tue, 1 Sep, 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm

Inspiration 28 Fri, 25 Sep, Fri, 18 Sep, 7.30pm 6.30pm

Eroica 30 Sat, 26 Sep, Thu, 24 Sep, 7.30pm 7.30pm

Monumental 32 Sat, 10 Oct, Fri, 9 Oct, 7.30pm 6.30pm

Metamorphosis 34 Wed, 14 Oct, Tue, 13 Oct, 7.30pm 7.30pm

Timeless 36 Fri, 23 Oct, Sat, 24 Oct, Thu, 22 Oct, Tue, 20 Oct, Wed, 21 Oct, 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm

Spectacular 38 Sat, 21 Nov, Fri, 20 Nov, 7.30pm 6.30pm

Book a Podium Series subscription package today and enjoy: “Being an NZSO subscriber • Up to 35% off ticket prices and flexible payment options isn’t just great value for money, • Preferential seating the personalised service from the warm and professional • Free programmes ticketing team keeps me • A complimentary ticket to introduce a friend to the magic of subscribing every year.” the NZSO Susi, NZSO subscriber, • A chance to win a holiday for two to Little Polynesian Resort, three years. Rarotonga

All NZSO 2020 Season details are correct at time of printing. Dates, times, artists, repertoire, seating arrangements, venues and price reserves are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

12 13 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Alexander Shelley Conductor Cameron Carpenter Organ

JS Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 Poulenc Organ Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 5

Alexander Shelley returns to conduct this tribute to the mightiest of instruments – the organ. The only instrument to match the orchestra itself in scale and grandeur of sound, its limits will be thrillingly pushed under the hands of maverick organist Cameron Carpenter. Known for his dramatically individualistic takes on classic organ repertoire, Carpenter revolutionises one of Bach’s greatest organ works: the iconic Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. His prodigious talents will be further showcased in Francis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto in G Minor. Originally intended as an easy showcase for a wealthy commissioner’s organ-playing skills, Poulenc soon expanded this original concept, drawing on JS Bach’s and Dietrich Buxtehude’s great Baroque organ works to create his own grand masterpiece. Beethoven enlarged the scope of the symphony when he wrote arguably his most famous: the Fifth. The opening “da-da- da-dah” rhythmic motif ties the symphony together in a previously uncommon cyclic structure. Beethoven’s structural daring is only matched by the symphony’s breathless urgency, making the work irresistible to listeners even today. Mavericks

Alexander Shelley Cameron Carpenter

Christchurch Fri, 20 Mar, 7.30pm Christchurch Town Hall Dunedin Sat, 21 Mar, 7.30pm Dunedin Town Hall Laurence Reese,

14 Section Principal Timpani Thériault Rémi Photo: 15 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Donald Runnicles Conductor Jennifer Davis Soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya Mezzo-soprano Samuel Sakker Tenor Jonathan Lemalu Bass Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir

Beethoven Missa Solemnis

Following the triumphant 2019 Beethoven Festival, NZSO’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth continues with a masterwork from the end of his life – the Missa Solemnis. Imbued with theatrical spirit of opera and deep spirituality of Catholic mass, mixed choir, soloists and orchestra bring to life this rarely heard magnum opus. Maestro Donald Runnicles visits New Zealand for the first time to conduct this work. Currently Music Director of Deutsche Oper Berlin and Music Director of the Grand Teton Music Festival, Runnicles is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Under his baton, a quartet of local and international soloists will be supported by Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. Runnicles brings his considerable operatic expertise to Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, a work whose manuscript Beethoven inscribed with the phrase: “From the heart – may it return to the heart!”

Devotion Donald Runnicles Jennifer Davis Vasilisa Berzhanskaya DR Photo: Simon Pauly DR Photo: Light Marshall JD Photo:

Samuel Sakker Jonathan Lemalu

Wellington Fri, 3 Apr, 6.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Sat, 4 Apr, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Beatrix Francis,

16 Viola Sussie Ahlberg JL Photo: 17 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Hamish McKeich Conductor Diedre Irons Piano

Weber Overture to Der Freischütz Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (Tauranga, Hamilton & Napier) Brahms Symphony No. 4 (Christchurch & Dunedin)

NZSO Principal Conductor in Residence Hamish McKeich presents some of Beethoven’s most iconic works in the 250th anniversary of his birth. Diedre Irons joins the Orchestra as soloist for Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto. Awarded an MBE and an ONZM for her outstanding contributions to music as both a stunning performer and dedicated educator, her formidable talent and musicality will bring out every nuance of Beethoven’s last-written and best-loved Piano Concerto. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 has perhaps the most famous opening of any piece of classical music. Its “da-da-da-dah” rhythmic motif has found its way into pop songs, Morse code and even Doctor Who. But its ubiquity hides its genius: using this distinctive motif as a common thread throughout all four movements, Beethoven wrote a symphony whose form was cyclic, rather than linear, and thus revolutionised symphonic form. Brahms initially struggled to find his voice while still under the shadow of Beethoven’s immense influence on the symphonic form. By the time he came to write his fourth symphony, however, Brahms had come into his own as the next great German symphonist. The work alludes to multiple Beethoven compositions, but also forges Emperor its own path forward in its structural innovations and organic development. The Orchestra also presents Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture Tauranga Wed, 22 Apr, 7.30pm to Der Freischütz. Though rarely performed now, Weber’s opera Baycourt Theatre Der Freischütz was an overnight sensation in its time, and is a clear forerunner to Wagner’s operas with its use of German folk tunes and Hamilton Thu, 23 Apr, 7.30pm mythology. Claudelands Arena Napier Fri, 24 Apr, 7.30pm Hamish McKeich Diedre Irons Municipal Theatre Dunedin Thu, 21 May, 7.30pm Dunedin Town Hall Christchurch Fri, 22 May, 7.30pm Christchurch Town Hall Hamish McKeich, 18 Principal Conductor in Residence 19 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Giancarlo Guerrero Conductor Valentina Lisitsa Piano

Tabea Squire Variations Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 Rachmaninov The Isle of the Dead Bartók Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin

Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, renowned for his Grammy Award- winning recordings of contemporary American composers, conducts the NZSO in a clutch of provocative 20th-century classics. Rachmaninov’s lush and brooding Isle of the Dead sprang from Arnold Böcklin’s painting of a looming island, approached by a lone rowboat carrying a coffin. Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin was originally a pantomime ballet depicting both the sounds of the urban jungle, but also the depravity within. Valentina Lisitsa performs Prokofiev’s best-loved Piano Concerto, his third. Lisitsa, one of the first viral classical music stars, is now a globe-trotting concert pianist whose playing has been praised by The Guardian as displaying “a special combination of utterly self-assured virtuosity and real lyricism and communication.” NZ composer Tabea Squire’s piece Variations is the first of her works to be premiered in an NZSO subscription series. The youngest ever composer to be awarded the NYO Composer-in- Residence position, her works have been premiered in Melbourne, Adelaide, and London. Provocateurs

Giancarlo Guerrero Valentina Lisitsa

Wellington Fri, 26 Jun, 6.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Sat, 27 Jun, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Ellen Deverall,

20 Associate Principal Clarinet Gilbert Francois VL Photo: 21 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Giancarlo Guerrero Conductor Valentina Lisitsa Piano

Lilburn Drysdale Overture Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 Beethoven Symphony No. 6 Pastoral

Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero has won six Grammys for his recordings as Music Director of the Nashville Symphony. Maestro Guerrero visits New Zealand to conduct a programme awash in musical landscapes. When studying at the Royal College of Music, Douglas Lilburn was asked by his teacher Ralph Vaughan Williams, “isn’t it time you composed something?” Lilburn responded by writing the Drysdale Overture, a loving depiction of his family’s farm in the upper Turakina River Valley. By contrast, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony is his famous expression of his love of the German countryside. Replete with simulated cuckoo calls, country dances, babbling brooks and a wild storm; the Pastoral nickname is well-earned. Valentina Lisitsa performs Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. One of the first viral classical music stars, with more than 214 million views on YouTube, Lisitsa is a highly sought after concert pianist, praised for “the aesthetic honesty of her performances.”

Idyllic

Napier Tue, 30 Jun, 7.30pm Municipal Theatre Taupo Wed, 1 Jul, 7.30pm Giancarlo Guerrero Valentina Lisitsa Great Lake Centre Tauranga Thu, 2 Jul, 7.30pm Baycourt Theatre Hamilton Fri, 3 Jul, 7.30pm Claudelands Arena Robert Orr,

22 Section Principal Oboe Gilbert Francois VL Photo: 23 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Marin Alsop Conductor

Anna Clyne Night Ferry Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

Renowned conductor Marin Alsop visits New Zealand for the first time. A ground-breaking role model for 21st century conductors worldwide, Alsop is capable of inspiring an orchestra to give “a life changing performance” and is praised by the New York Times as a “formidable musician and a powerful communicator.” Alsop conducts Anna Clyne’s Night Ferry and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, which both represent extremes. Night Ferry was inspired by Schubert’s and poet Robert Lowell’s struggles with bipolar disorder, charting the stormy voyages between the highs and lows of this illness. Shostakovich’s Fifth was received rapturously by both the Soviet government and the public. Officials saw it as Shostakovich finally toeing the party line after falling dangerously out of favour in 1936. For the public, however, it was a raw expression of misery forced upon them by Stalin. Whether Shostakovich meant it as a government-approved work of obedience or an anguished cry from the heart of the people, its emotional power is without question.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

Rebels

Marin Alsop

Wellington Fri, 24 Jul, 6.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Sat, 25 Jul, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Shannon Pittaway,

24 Principal Bass Trombone Leighton Grant Photo: 25 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Vasily Petrenko Conductor Yeol Eum Son Piano

Wagner Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg WA Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and soon-to-be Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko draws out performances “rich in mood and character … a conductor with an intelligent, informed but deep love of this music.” Wagner’s comic opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg begins with a Prelude masterfully presenting the main melodies of the opera before cleverly combining all four for a glorious climax. The brightness of Wagner’s tunes is matched in Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, which he wrote as “a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers, his pure and noble spirit.” The NZSO welcomes stunningly talented Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son for the first time to perform Mozart’s last Piano Concerto, No. 27. A versatile performer, Son’s interpretations of Mozart are garnering notice. Her all-Mozart album with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields received abundant praise, with The Times calling her performance, “a model of clarity and fleetness.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Spirit

Vasily Petrenko Yeol Eum Son

Wellington Thu, 6 Aug, 7.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Fri, 7 Aug, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Kirstin Eade,

26 Associate Principal Flute Tarlova Svetlana VP Photo: 27 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Gemma New Conductor Johannes Moser Cello

Robin Toan Tū-mata-uenga “God of War, Spirit of Man” Elgar Cello Concerto Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 Pathétique

New Zealand conductor Gemma New is on the rise. A former Conducting Fellow under the mentorship of LA Philharmonic’s Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, New has lead performances at Carnegie Hall and with the symphony orchestras of San Diego, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and San Francisco. Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario, as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Resident Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony, New returns home to lead the NZSO in her “unusually sensitive and expressive” style. You will look forward to her intelligent interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, Pathétique – the vehicle par excellence for expressivity and emotion. Johannes Moser also returns to perform Elgar’s well-loved Cello Concerto in E Minor. His third time performing with the NZSO, Moser’s easy-going demeanour belies his intensely lyrical playing and superb musicianship. Written in 2005 as the first NYO Composer-in-Residence commission, Robin Toan’s Tū-mata-uenga “God of War, Spirit of Man” was inspired by the Māori story of creation.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Passion

Wellington Sat, 29 Aug, 7.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Dunedin Tue, 1 Sep, 7.30pm Gemma New Johannes Moser Dunedin Town Hall Christchurch Wed, 2 Sep, 7.30pm Christchurch Town Hall Auckland Sat, 5 Sep, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Rowan Prior,

28 Cello Cox Roy GN Photo: 29 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Miguel Harth-Bedoya Conductor Augustin Hadelich Violin

Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol Sibelius Violin Concerto Debussy Images pour orchestre, II. Ibéria Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole

Perennial favourite Miguel Harth-Bedoya returns to conduct the NZSO in a sumptuous Spanish-inspired musical feast – with a Finnish cherry on top. The concert opens with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, ripe with Spanish melodies. Both Debussy’s Images, from which Iberia is drawn, and Ravel’s piece Rapsodie Espagnole began life as works for piano, but in these vividly colourful orchestral versions, Debussy’s dreamy impressions of Spain and Ravel’s own maternally-inherited Spanish roots are brought here to full flower. Augustin Hadelich also returns, after wowing New Zealanders in 2018. Named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Musical America and lauded by NPR as capable of evoking “every nuanced colour and ethereal sound the instrument can make”, Hadelich’s superlative violin playing is sure to bring out the evocative flavours of Sibelius’ well-loved Violin Concerto. The only concerto Sibelius ever wrote, its fiendish technical difficultly is matched only by its expressive power. Indeed, musicologist Donald Tovey wrote, “I have not met a more original, a more masterly, and a more exhilarating work than the Sibelius Violin Concerto.” Inspiration

Miguel Harth-Bedoya Augustin Hadelich

Wellington Fri, 18 Sep, 6.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Fri, 25 Sep, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Beiyi Xue,

30 First Violin Michal Novak MH-B Photo: 31 -

2020 PODIUM SERIES

Miguel Harth-Bedoya Conductor Augustin Hadelich Violin

Anthony Ritchie Remember Parihaka Sibelius Violin Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 3 Eroica

Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya is a familiar face to New Zealand audiences, returning to conduct an offering of time-tested classics. Anthony Ritchie was inspired to write Remember Parihaka as testament to the plight of Māori at Parihaka, forcibly removed from their Pā, unjustly arrested and imprisoned in 1881. Augustin Hadelich, one of this generation’s greatest violinists, performs Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. After a disastrous premiere, Sibelius reworked the concerto substantially, removing some of its most difficult sections. Even in this more commonly played revised version, the Concerto remains one of the most difficult works written for violin – while still retaining the power to move, inspire and exhilarate. Beethoven’s Third Symphony also looms large as a great work. Its effect on 19th-century classical music was cataclysmic; after the Third, the symphony as a form was never the same again.

Eroica

Miguel Harth-Bedoya Augustin Hadelich

Gisborne Thu, 24 Sep, 7.30pm War Memorial Theatre Kerikeri Sat, 26 Sep, 7.30pm The Turner Centre Megan Molina,

32 Second Violin Michal Novak MH-B Photo: 33 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Edo de Waart Conductor Erin Wall Soprano

R Strauss Metamorphosen R Strauss Four Last Songs Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

Edo de Waart conducts his first concert as NZSO’s Conductor Laureate with this programme of lush orchestral masterpieces. Two of Strauss’ late works deal in their own way with the end of all things. Metamorphosen has been interpreted as a lament to the destruction of Germany in World War II. In Four Last Songs, Strauss expresses the mellow sweetness of looking back, in the winter of your years, upon a life well lived. Canadian soprano Erin Wall is particularly acclaimed for her performances of Strauss and has sung leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and Opéra National de Paris. Her first performances in New Zealand will be unforgettable, as she gives voice to Strauss’ elegiac song cycle. The programme concludes with Tchaikovsky’s well-loved Fifth Symphony. Not well received upon its premiere, it has won a place in every concert-goer’s heart for its colourful orchestration, its emotional qualities, and its brooding, soul-stirring melodies.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

Monumental

Edo de Waart Erin Wall

Wellington Fri, 9 Oct, 6.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Sat, 10 Oct, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Cheryl Hollinger,

34 Associate Principal Trumpet Hoebermann Kirstin EW Photo: 35 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Edo de Waart Conductor Erin Wall Soprano

R Strauss Metamorphosen R Strauss Four Last Songs Beethoven Symphony No. 3 Eroica

NZSO Conductor Laureate, Edo de Waart, conducts the works of two German greats – Richard Strauss and Ludwig van Beethoven. To close out the South Island season, the NZSO plays the Beethoven symphony that changed the world – The Third, nicknamed Eroica (Heroic). Strauss’ Metamorphosen is often seen as an elegy to the destruction of German culture during World War II. Scored for string orchestra, Metamorphosen quotes the funeral march of Beethoven’s Third – a poignant reference to that touchstone of German culture which Strauss felt had been jeopardised by the awful violence of World War II. A versatile performer who has sung everything from Mozart to Kaija Saariaho, Canadian soprano Erin Wall visits New Zealand for the first time to perform Strauss’ Four Last Songs. Described by the Financial Times as “wielding a soprano [voice] of radiance, pristine beauty and tingling top notes,” Wall will use her glorious vocal talents to breathe life into Strauss’ late vocal masterpiece.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER Metamorphosis

Edo de Waart Erin Wall

Dunedin Tue, 13 Oct, 7.30pm Dunedin Town Hall Christchurch Wed, 14 Oct, 7.30pm Christchurch Town Hall Joan Perarnau Garriga,

36 Section Principal Bass Hoebermann Kirstin EW Photo: 37 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Edo de Waart Conductor

Beethoven orch. Weingartner Grosse Fuge Haydn Symphony No. 64 Tempora Mutantur WA Mozart Symphony No. 40

The NZSO sees out Beethoven’s anniversary year with a programme placing Beethoven’s achievements in the context of his great contemporaries Haydn and Mozart. Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven comprise the main pillars of the First Viennese School. They are the par excellence of quintessential Classical style. Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 Tempora Mutantur (Times Change) exemplifies the classical symphony. However, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 is the more famous work, instantly recognisable from its opening theme. Although Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge (Great Fugue) is originally for string quartet, here it is performed by NZSO’s formidable string section. The work itself bewildered critics when it premiered, and even now its structural complexity leaves musicians both perplexed and fascinated. In this work, Beethoven shows that though Haydn and Mozart provided the launchpad for his inspiration, his works aimed for heights that ultimately left them behind and which few could follow.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

Timeless

Napier Tue, 20 Oct, 7.30pm Municipal Theatre Taupo Wed, 21 Oct, 7.30pm Great Lake Centre Tauranga Thu, 22 Oct, 7.30pm Edo de Waart Baycourt Theatre Auckland Fri, 23 Oct, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Wellington Sat, 24 Oct, 7.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Alan Molina, 38 First Violin 39 2020 PODIUM SERIES

Osmo Vänskä Conductor Esther Yoo Violin

Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 Sibelius Symphony No. 5

World renowned conductor Osmo Vänskä returns to New Zealand to lead the NZSO in a concert celebrating the full might of the symphony orchestra. Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra, Vänskä has been praised for interpretations rife with “an urgency and spontaneity that send shivers down one’s back”. In his hands, new life will spring forth in the much-loved Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This work is paired with another great classic – Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. With its glorious “swan-call” horn theme in the third movement, the Fifth Symphony remains one of the lushest and most deeply moving symphonies of the 20th-century. Violinist Esther Yoo performs for the first time with the NZSO and will play Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3. Named a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist in 2014, Yoo was just six years old when she made her first concerto debut. Her dazzling musicality will come to the fore in the Saint-Saëns. Written for violinist/composer Pablo de Sarasate, its subtle nuances provide interpretative challenges for even the most skilled performer. Yoo is certainly up to the task. Spectacular

Osmo Vänskä Esther Yoo

Wellington Fri, 20 Nov, 6.30pm Michael Fowler Centre Auckland Sat, 21 Nov, 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Samuel Jacobs,

40 Section Principal Horn Joel Larson Photo: OV Borggreve Marco EY Photo: 41 Ticketing and Subscriptions 2020 TICKETING WIN WITH NZSO WHY SUBSCRIBE? & LITTLE POLYNESIAN RESORT Book a NZSO Podium Series subscription package today and enjoy an enhanced Purchase your season package before 31 January 2020 to season ticket holder experience. enter the draw to win this fantastic prize courtesy of • Up to 35% off ticket prices and flexible payment options Little Polynesian Resort. • Flexible ticket exchange Includes: 5 nights for two people in a Beachfront Bungalow at • Free programmes Little Polynesian Resort, Rarotonga. Return flights for two people RAROTONGA • COOK ISLANDS (to the value of $2,000). Daily tropical breakfasts. Complimentary • A complimentary ticket to introduce a friend to the magic of the NZSO use of snorkelling equipment, kayaks and stand up paddleboards. • Preferential seating COOK ISLANDS pacificresort.com • Avoid booking fees by purchasing additional concert tickets directly from the NZSO Ticketing Office • Free ticket to the NYO concert of your choice • Free and unlimited use of the Naxos online music library • Exclusive offers and special events Book a season package online before 16 December 2019 and pay no booking fee!

BOOKING YOUR PODIUM SERIES SEASON PACKAGE Auckland and Wellington Book three or more Podium Series concerts to make up a season package or take a Works or Mini-Works package. Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin Book a minimum of two Podium Series concerts to make up a season package or take a Works package. Book and pay online at nzso.co.nz or use a booking form – available either with this brochure, or downloadable from our website at nzso.co.nz/bookingform

ARE YOU A RENEWING SUBSCRIBER? Go online with your subscriber/customer number to book and pay online or use a booking form and request your preferred seating.

IMPORTANT DATES 1 November 2019 Season/Subscription Launch 16 December 2019 Priority seating period ends/deadline for no booking fee February 2020 Tickets will be sent to Subscribers After this deadline it may be difficult to offer your seating request. Renewing Works subscribers will be allocated first, then new Works subscribers, then everyone else by date your booking is received, so make sure to book as soon as you can.

NEED HELP? The NZSO Ticketing Team are available from 10.00am till 4.00pm Monday to Friday.

Call 0800 479 674 or email [email protected]

For terms and conditions, visit; nzso.co.nz/resortprize. The winner will be notified by telephone.

44 RAROTONGA · COOK ISLANDS 2020 TICKETING

SEASON TICKETS UNDER-35* Aged 35 or under? Purchase a season package of three or more concerts and pay only $30 per concert for a B or C Reserve seat based on availability. For dates and further details, visit nzso.co.nz/u35

$39 STUDENT CLUB SUBSCRIPTION Join Student Club and get a special three-concert subscription for only $39! You’ll also get the opportunity to meet NZSO players, guest conductors and soloists, visit backstage and attend special Q&A sessions. Student Club subscriptions are open to Students 16 years and over in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin with valid I.D.

CONCESSION SEASON TICKETS* Gold Card, Community Services Card, Unwaged or Disability Permit holders receive up to 15% discount on concert packages. These prices are shown on pages 46 to 47. Simply choose the concession price and send in proof of concession with the booking form.

PAY IT FORWARD SUBSCRIPTION Give students the gift of music with a Pay it Forward subscription. Make a contribution from just $39 and it will go towards three concert subscriptions for students. For more information visit nzso.co.nz/payitforward

PAY YOUR AGE* 22 YEARS = $22 BARGAIN Seize the moment and enjoy world-class performances with Pay Your Age. If you’re aged between 18 and 35 you can simply pay the price of your age for a single concert ticket. So, if you’re 22 years old, pay just $22. If you’re aged 30, pay just $30. The NZSO will choose your seat. It is that simple. To book, phone 0800 479 674 or email [email protected]. Available from six weeks prior to a concert up until two days before the concert. Seats will be allocated based on availability.

BUS SERVICES Buses operate to selected NZSO concerts from a number of regions and range in price from $26–$35. Please visit our website for routes and pricing. Buses can be booked along with your subscription. nzso.co.nz/bus

SUBSCRIPTIONS: TERMS AND CONDITIONS By completing and returning any 2020 Season Ticket booking form, you are indicating your acceptance of our Terms and Conditions relating to the ordering and sale of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) tickets, as determined by us and specified in full on the NZSO website. The NZSO will use its best endeavours to supply you with the tickets you order, however the NZSO cannot guarantee the availability of tickets, or that seating is available in the reserve you request. Allocation of tickets is subject to availability. The NZSO reserves the right to refuse any application for tickets or completed Season Ticket order at its discretion. All dates, times, artists, repertoire, seating arrangements, venues and price reserves are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Where changes such as these are made, tickets are non- refundable unless required by law. The only exception is when an event is cancelled and there is no further performance of that event. A full copy of the terms of sale is available at nzso.co.nz or by calling 0800 479 crane-brothers.com 674. Selected terms and conditions are printed on the back of tickets. **UNDER 35, CONCESSION, PAY YOUR AGE AND RUSH TICKETS: TERMS AND CONDITIONS Subscribe online and be in to win a tuxedo from Crane Brothers Proof of age required for Under 35, Concession and Pay Your Age tickets. Student or CSC ID required for Rush Tickets. Pay Your Age and Under 35 tickets only available when booking directly through the NZSO. Purchase your NZSO 2020 season subscription online before 20 December 2019 Pay Your Age and Student Rush are subject to availability, for selected concerts. to enter the draw to win a tuxedo from Crane Brothers. 46 Visit nzso.co.nz/suitprize for more details 2020 Napier TICKETING The Works (3 fixed concerts) All Napier concerts detailed on pages 16 to 37. Add other concerts to this package – use Flexi pricing. Subscriptions and Full Price Concession A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve

Concert packages $171 $132 $105 $78 $144 $111 $90 $ 72

Auckland & Wellington Flexi Package Build your own subscription package from three concerts or add other concerts to your package. Flexi Package prices are per concert. The Works (9 fixed concerts) Full Price Concession All Auckland/Wellington concerts detailed on pages 14 to 39. Add other concerts to this package – use Flexi pricing. A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve Full Price Concession $57 $44 $35 $26 $48 $37 $30 $24 Premium A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve Premium A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve

$846 $675 $504 $342 $207 $756 $612 $450 $306 $180 Casual Ticket Pricing

The Mini-Works (7 fixed concerts) Full Price Concession

All concerts detailed on pages 18 to 37. Add other concerts to this package – use Flexi pricing. A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve

Full Price Concession $65 $50 $40 $30 $55 $43 $34 $27

Premium A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve Premium A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve

$700 $560 $420 $280 $168 $630 $504 $378 $252 $154 Hamilton Flexi Package The Works (2 fixed concerts) Build your own subscription package from three concerts or add other concerts to your package. Flexi Package prices are per concert. All Hamilton concerts detailed on pages 16 to 21.