Soprano superstar headlines season
A rock star of classical music will headline the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s 2015 season.
American soprano Renee Fleming’s recordings and concerts have spanned genres, winning her worldwide popularity.
This year the National Football League invited her to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
Orchestra chief executive Christopher Blake said Fleming was a wonderful artist in demand all over the world.
‘‘It has been something of a coup to get her,’’ he said.
Fleming will perform just one concert with the orchestra next year, in Wellington on September 12. Her set list has not been finalised, but she will sing Ravel’s Sheherazade and Cantaloube Songs of the Auvergne, piece.
‘‘I’m certainly looking forward to Renee Fleming. She is an iconic figure,’’ Blake said.
Fifty-five concerts at 13 centres will make up the season, which will feature Beethoven’s piano concertos.
Other highlights for Blake will be several high-profile violinists, many of whom are women, including Janine Jansen performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Hilary Hahn and youthful Latvian Baiba Skride, who will play a Sibelius violin concerto.
‘‘It is a big season for violinists – real top-notch violinists.’’
Wellington will get every orchestra programme and Auckland will get all except Fleming.
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