The Biennial Festival of Music is delighted to welcome back Gunther Schuller, whose Parsifal thrilled audiences in 1995. For the 1997 Biennial, Gunther Schuller conducts the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, which has consistently attracted accolades for its ‘remarkable intuition’, ‘fire and passion’ and ‘eloquent shading’. Together they bring alive the music of Strauss and Brahms in two important concerts with soloists soprano Mechthild Gessendorf and pianist Piers Lane. Richard Strauss created some of the most famous heroines in all opera. Every lover of the genre is familiar with the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier, Arabella, and the Countess from Capriccio.
One of the leading interpreters of these roles is German soprano Mechthild Gessendorf in her Australian debut. Der Rosenkavalier, featured in this performance, has been Ms Gessendorf 's signature role in many international theatres from the Zurich Opera to the Metropolitan in New York. She has worked consistently throughout Europe, Canada and the USA, appearing with the Chicago Symphony and the Toronto Symphony among others.
This is a rare opportunity to hear a great diva, orchestra and conductor - each with an enviable command of the Strauss repertoire - in masterworks which illustrate the richness, variety and inventive power of his work.
WHEN TICKETS A Res B Res C Res DURATION Thursday 29 May at 8pm Adult $55 $48 $42 WHERE Encore Card $47 $41 $36 1 hour 50 minutes Concert Hall QPAC Concession $44 $38 $34 including interval
Although Johannes Brahms died one hundred years ago, his work is perennially fresh. He is one of the greatest Romantic composers, and in this dazzling concert, the sunlit world of the D major symphony acts as a foil to the great B flat concerto with its majestic symphonic structure.
Piano soloist is Queenslander Piers Lane. Now based in London, Lane is considered one of the most exciting concert pianists in Europe and has successfully toured the USA, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
The NZSO acknowledges major funding support from the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Te Matu Tikanga a Iwi.
Plays Brahms Brahms Symphony No 2 in D major Op 73 Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major Op 83
WHEN TICKETS A Res B Res C Res DURATION Saturday 31 May at 8pm Adult $40 $32 $26 WHERE Encore Card $34 $27 $22 1 hour 50 minutes Concert Hall QPAC Concession $32 $26 $21 including interval
