New Zealand Symphony Orchestra takes on the world

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has recently announced details of their forthcoming international tour, further confirming its position among the world’s finest classical orchestras.

Starting in Shanghai at the World Expo Concert in late October the orchestra will then travel to Europe where it will perform in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia between November 3rd and 16th

This is the most extensive and prestigious international tour the NZSO will have made in its 63-year history. By invitation only, the orchestra will perform in the greatest halls of Europe including the Musikverein in Vienna, which represents the pinnacle for any international orchestra.

Peter Walls, NZSO CEO, says, “The NZSO is developing an enviable reputation in the symphonic world. Our commitment to artistic excellence is putting New Zealand on the world stage.

“As a nation we are good at celebrating our achievements in sport, business and innovation. This is another opportunity for New Zealanders to be proud.”

The NZSO is also delighted to be celebrating the re-signing of Pietari Inkinen as the orchestra’s Music Director.

“Right from my first encounter with the NZSO, I saw that they were highly committed to presenting great symphonic music with a freshness that is contagious,” says Pietari Inkinen.

Pietari is highly regarded internationally, commended by critics on the concert stage and in recordings. He is fast establishing himself as one of the most exciting talents of the new generation of conductors, a rapid rise for a 30-year-old.

Peter Walls says, “We are very fortunate to have Pietari. He is in huge demand internationally and it was a coup for our national orchestra to secure him for another three years. This adds to the NZSO’s international reputation for boldness when it comes to artistic foresight.”

Peter Walls notes that the tour will not be a burden on the taxpayer as they have obtained significant sponsorship from Pacific Blue (and Virgin Airlines) along with hotel chain Crowne Plaza. Their concert in Shanghai will be supported by Solid Energy and Richina (owners of Mainzeal) who are principal sponsors of New Zealand at the World Trade Expo in Shanghai.

Included in their programme will be several New Zealand works including Douglas Lilburn’s Aotearoa Overture which has been requested by some of the venues.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1946 is one of the oldest national symphony orchestras in the world. It consists of 90 players and performs over 100 concerts annually. All its main symphonic programmes are presented in Auckland and Wellington and, as well as this, the Orchestra visits some 25 New Zealand towns and cities annually.

In August 2008 the Orchestra travelled to China to take part in the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival. During this prestigious tour the NZSO performed at the Forbidden City and the National Centre for the Performing Arts under NZSO Music Director Pietari Inkinen. Pietari Inkinen has received much praise in the national and international press for his outstanding abilities both in concert with the NZSO and in NZSO recordings.

Gramophone magazine described the NZSO’s first recording with Pietari Inkinen as “perceptive and engaging Sibelius from this promising young Finnish conductor”, whilst in the February 2009 issue: …”the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra respond with conspicuous poise and application for their Finnish chief, Pietari Inkinen … a conductor with talent to spare”.

The NZSO has created and performed the musical score for dozens of films including The Lord of the Rings, Lovely Bones, Under the Mountain, Dean Spanley, Rain of the Children, Predicament and Separation City. The orchestra has produced a number of recordings over the past ten years with sales of over one million CDs

The NZSO International Itinerary

• 29 October - Shanghai, China: World Expo Concert
• 3 November - Freiburg, Germany: Concert Hall
• 4 November - Maribor, Slovenia: Narodni Dom Maribor
• 6 November - Vienna, Austria: Musikverein
• 7 November - Lucerne, Switzerland: Concert Hall
• 8 November - Geneva, Switzerland: Victoria Hall
• 10 November - Stuttgart, Germany: Liederhalle
• 11 November - Mannheim, Germany: Rosengarten
• 13 November - Frankfurt, Germany: Alte Oper
• 14 November - Essen, Gerany: Philharmonie
• 15 November - Dusseldorf, Germany: Tonhalle
• 16 November - Hamburg, Germany: Laeiszhalle