NZSO winter festival next week features sensational pianist and more 

From Mozart to the magic of Harry Potter, the NZSO presents an enchanting selection of concerts and whānau-friendly events in Wellington and Auckland from 9 August. 

For every concert, the Orchestra is led by renowned German conductor André de Ridder, who mesmerised audiences when he made his NZSO debut last year.  

Our Immerse 2024 Rumakina winter festival includes the exciting NZSO debut of acclaimed Australian pianist Andrea Lam. 

Andrea, hailed as a “real talent” by the Wall Street Journal, performs Mozart's beloved and instantly recognisable Piano Concerto No. 21 ‘Elvira Madigan’ in Wellington (9 August) and Auckland (16 August). 

Mozart: The Great also features György Ligeti’s folk-inspired Concert Românesc and one of the greatest symphonies ever written: Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 ‘The Great’, packed with some of classical music’s best-known melodies 

Andrea’s second concert, exclusive to Auckland (17 August) features French composer Maurice Ravel’s stunning Piano Concerto as part of Boléro: Ravel & Schumann in a programme with Robert Schumann’s unforgettable Fourth Symphony and Ravel's intoxicating masterpiece Boléro.  

André de Ridder is generously supported by NZSO Fortissimo donors the Diessl Family. 

Violin superstar Maxim Vengerov performs with the NZSO in Wellington

As part of our Immerse Rumakina winter festival, Grammy Award-winning superstar violinist Maxim Vengerov makes his Aotearoa New Zealand debut with the NZSO in Wellington on 15 August. 

Vengerov, dubbed “one of the greatest violinists in the world” by Classic FM, performs Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. This technically challenging piece is a captivating listen, full of drama that is widely regarded as one of the best concertos for violin. 

Vengerov’s journey from child violin prodigy to acclaimed soloist, and more recently conductor, began when he first picked up the violin at age five. He sensationally burst onto the international scene in 1984 when he won the prestigious Wieniawski Competition at the age of 10.  

Britain’s Sunday Times recently hailed him as the violinist “who reaches places others cannot.” 

With his communicative, colourful and technically near-miraculous playing, and an individual sound recognisable for its seductive richness, he is the nearest thing the violin has today to a household name. 

Don’t miss one of the most exciting music experiences of the decade with Maxim Vengerov Plays Sibelius. 

Maxim Vengerov is generously supported by Fortissimo donor Dame Bronwen Holdsworth. 

Fairytales & Broomsticks – a spellbinding concert for all ages

Fairytales & Broomsticks in Wellington (11 August) and Auckland (18 August) is an unmissable whānau-friendly matinee experience. 

Enjoy John Williams’ magical music from the Harry Potter films, alongside selections from Hansel and Gretel composed by Kiwi Claire Cowan for the Royal NZ Ballet, and the classic Hänsel und Gretel from German composer Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera. 

NZSO animateur and popular children’s entertainer Chris Lam Sam joins the Orchestra, led by André de Ridder, for this magical musical adventure. 

To celebrate, each performance also features free pre-concert activities from 12.30pm, including face-painting, a colouring-in station, a photo booth and a bouncy castle! 

Get behind the scenes with our Maxim Vengerov masterclass

Get a taste of international superstar violinist Maxim Vengerov before his debut New Zealand performance with the NZSO.  

Maxim presents a special masterclass with young Kiwi violinists at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre on 14 August, which will be open to the public and livestreamed! 

The NZSO Foundation is delighted to present this once-in-a lifetime opportunity. Three emerging professional young artists from the 2024 NZSO National Youth Orchestra will join Maxim on stage to learn from one of the world’s eminent musicians.  

Renowned for his artistry and technical brilliance, Maxim is not just a phenomenal performer, he’s committed to sharing his time and expertise with young musicians to help them develop as players. Don’t miss this opportunity to observe one of the world’s biggest stars on our shores inspiring the next generation of leading violinists.

Our whānau-friendly Open Doors sessions are back!

Our whānau-friendly and free Open Doors sessions are a special part of our Immerse Rumakina winter festival in Wellington and Auckland this month. 

Open Doors is from 10am on 10 August at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre and 17 August at Auckland Town Hall. 

Tamariki Time will appeal to preschoolers or students up to age 10, with a wide variety of music and an exciting story told by the one-and-only Chris Lam Sam with the NZSO’s players of the future from the National Youth Orchestra.  

Our Relaxed Concert, with performances by members of the 2024 NZSO National Youth Orchestra is a relaxed and sensory friendly performance for neurodivergent people of all ages who may feel uncomfortable in a traditional concert environment. 

Orchestra Jams are a fun and informal opportunity for musicians of all ages to play through easy pieces with the expert assistance of our NZSO musicians. 

Our Auckland open doors also feature two special masterclasses for university students hosted by NZSO Assistant Principal Cello Ian Greenberg and Associate Principal Viola Alexander McFarlane, thanks to the NZSO Foundation. 

While tickets are free, registration is required. Go to our links below. 

Augustin in August – virtuoso violinist tours with the NZSO!

One of the world’s most exciting violinists returns on 23 August with concerts in Wellington, Auckland, Rotorua and Hamilton.  

Grammy Award-winner Augustin Hadelich performs Tchaikovsky’s beloved Violin Concerto with the NZSO, led for the first time by acclaimed Finnish conductor Dima Slobodeniouk.  

Hailed as one of the greatest violinists of our time, Augustin mesmerised New Zealanders when he first performed with the NZSO in 2018.  

The Waikato Times described experiencing the American-German violinist in Hamilton that year as so powerful “it had some members of the audience in tears.” 

American critics have likened him to a rock star. “Hadelich wielded his axe, a 1723 Stradivarius, as a guitar god handles his Stratocaster, spinning a complex, emotional story on his violin.” 

For a performance last month with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, “Hadelich laid it down like a boss,” said Violinist.com. 

Augustin performs in the NZSO concerts La Mer in Wellington and Auckland and Pastoral in Rotorua and Hamilton in association with New Zealand Herald. 

The Wellington and Auckland performances also feature Claude Debussy’s landmark impressionist masterpiece La Mer and Jean Sibelius’ water nymph inspired The Oceanides, which the Finnish composer completed while on an ocean liner to the United States. 

Rotorua and Hamilton audiences are in for a special treat: Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony Pastoral, the great composer’s much-loved celebration of the countryside and nature. 

Hailed for his exhilarating approach and energetic leadership by musicians and audiences alike, Maestro Slobodeniouk is one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation. 

His many conducting engagements include the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. 

Augustin Hadelich’s appearances with the NZSO are generously supported by Donald and Susan Best 

NZSO+ in August 

NZSO+ streams two exciting NZSO performances in August: 

Mozart: The Great features gifted Australian pianist Andrea Lam and the NZSO led by acclaimed German conductor André de Ridder on 9 August. 

La Mer: Tchaikovsky, Sibelius & Debussy on 23 August features violin virtuoso Augustin Hadelich and the NZSO led by renowned Finnish conductor Dima Slobodeniouk. 

To watch any upcoming NZSO+ livestream is easy. Just go to the link below. 

Enjoy a meal at Everybody Eats before your NZSO concert

For just $30 you can enhance your concert experience with a delicious, sustainable three-course pre-concert dinner, served by Everybody Eats in Wellington. Each meal is themed to match the music programme of the NZSO concert that evening. 

Pre-concert dinners are available for the NZSO concerts Jupiter (19 September) and Arias (24 October) – these events sell out fast so book your spot now.