NZSO gears up for new year
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will introduce an innovative Festival series and expand its popular and accessible Setting Up Camp tour to more communities in 2021.
The multi-day Festival and Setting Up Camp tours are in addition to an exciting selection of other concerts and special events the national orchestra will present.
Renowned international conductors Marin Alsop, Vasily Petrenko, Asher Fisch and James Judd will join New Zealanders Gemma New, Holly Mathieson and NZSO principal conductor in residence Hamish McKeich for the orchestra’s 2021 season. Acclaimed New Zealand pianists Stephen De Pledge and Diedre Irons, soprano Madeleine Pierard, mezzosoprano Kristin Darragh, tenor Simon O’Neill and bass Paul Whelan are among the soloists confirmed. NZSO concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppanen directs a programme which includes Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The NZSO will also join forces with the Royal New Zealand Ballet for two productions. NZSO chief executive Peter Biggs says in 2021 the orchestra will spend more time and reach more communities in every centre it performs in. “Our goal every year is to bring the greatest music ever written to as many New Zealanders as possible. We’re proud that in 2021 we’ll tour from Kerikeri to Invercargill and perform with some of the best soloists and conductors in the world.
“Our multi-day Festivals in six cities and expansion of our Setting Up Camp tour from six to 15 centres next year will give audiences more choices and allow the NZSO to make deeper connections with more New Zealanders.”
Mr Biggs says one of the highlights for audiences in 2021 will be Kia Kotahi ,a unique participatory performance of Beethoven’s Ninth
Symphony, with a new text of Ode to Joy sung in te reo Ma¯ ori by a chorus of high school students. The concert will also include new works by New Zealand artists to complement the symphony.
American Marin Alsop, one of the world’s top conductors, will make her New Zealand debut with Kia Kotahi. The project was originally slated for 2020, Beethoven’s 250th anniversary year. However, Mr Biggs says a combination of the impact of Covid-19 and limited government funding, has meant the NZSO will not deliver to New Zealanders everything it planned to do. “In 2021 we have reluctantly reduced the number of largescale concerts, particularly in some regions. We know this will sadden our many fans and supporters around the country. The NZSO is working hard to find a solution so we can reach those audiences.”
More information at nzso. co.nz.