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New Zealand Symphony Orchestra |
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The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the country's national orchestra and the flagship of the performing arts in New Zealand. It was founded in 1946 and gave its first public performance in March 1947. The orchestra’s 50th anniversary was celebrated in 1996, and in 1999 James Judd was appointed its first Musical Director.
The orchestra numbers 90 players who are drawn from the international pool of musicians. It gives over one hundred performances each year, which include concert seasons of major symphonic repertoire in seven subscription centres, as well as visits to smaller centres.
The NZSO is involved in education programmes, performs family and schools concerts, accompanies opera and ballet productions and records for television, film and radio. It commissions and performs New Zealand music, and has a long recording history which has seen it move into the world market and win many international awards.
A highlight of the NZSO’s tours outside of New Zealand was the much-celebrated visit to Seville to perform at the1990 Expo with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa under the baton of Conductor Laureate Franz-Paul Decker. Notable recent highlights include two performances at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Arts Festival (which featured premières of works by Gareth Farr), and the NZ sell-out concerts in the 2001 ‘Ludwig! A Feast of Beethoven’ series. |
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| Recordings |
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MMT2043 Christmas Baroque – NZSO / Marc Taddei
Pastoral Christmas music from the Baroque era. This recording brings
together a selection of familiar and not-so-familiar works by Bach/Kuhnau, Handel, Michael Haydn, Torelli, Manfredini, Lalande, Ferrandini, Gossec and Valentini. Lovely listening at Christmas, or any time!
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MMT2035 Michael Houstoun – Piano Concertos
Michael Houstoun performing live with the NZSO in two major works of the piano concerto repertoire, Prokofiev’s third & Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ concertos.
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MMT2060 David Farquhar – Three Symphonies
With this recording it is at last possible to assess the contribution of one of New Zealand's senior composers to the symphonic genre.
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MMT2033 Parihaka – The Art of Passive Resistance
A soundscape of music and poetry from the Wellington City Gallery’s major exhibition. Music by Tim Finn and Herbs, the Patea Maori Club, and twelve of NZ’s finest poets reading their own work. |
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MMT2021 Gareth Farr – Orchestral Works
Farr at his colourful best: Waipoua, Le Temps est à la Pluie, Tabuh Pacific, Queen of Demons, and the ever-popular From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs. |
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MMT2027 Kenneth Young – Orchestral Works
Three works from a unique New Zealand voice – the Symphony, Virgen de la Esperanza, and Dance, performed by the NZSO with the composer conducting. |
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MMT2026 Gareth Farr – Te Papa (CD Single)
Written to celebrate the opening of the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa combines symphony orchestra, operatic soprano and tenor and Maori karanga. |
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MMT2059 Wild Music – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Released in conjunction with Concert FM and the Department of Conservation, this CD includes works specially chosen to help raise public awareness of the beauty and fragility of New Zealand's natural environment.
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MMT2037 Landscapes – New Zealand Orchestral Music
This recording showcases works by seven of the foremost New Zealand composers of orchestral music: Lilburn, Cresswell, Grenfell, Lodge, Hamilton, Harris and Anthony Ritchie.
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