Bohemian Rhapsodies at Nature Themed Concert

A musical nature trail through Bohemia and central Europe is on offer at the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s second Vero Aotea Series concert on Thursday 10th April called In Nature’s Realm.



The first concert in the Vero Aotea Series, Rhapsody In Blue, attracted a near full house last month with the American-themed programme proving extremely popular with audiences. In Nature’s Realm, held at 8pm in the Aotea Centre, THE EDGE, continues the APO’s successful formula of presenting some of the world’s best-loved classical music in a themed concert suitable for both established music-lovers and newcomers to the concert hall.



“If you buy a ticket to an APO Vero Aotea Series concert you are buying a ticket for an entertaining and exciting musical journey,” says APO Chief Executive, Barbara Glaser. “As with last year’s Rome, the Eternal City and our hugely popular Rhapsody In Blue, In Nature’s Realm takes a geographical location – the central European countryside – and brings together a range of orchestral works to provide a vivid concert experience.”



In Nature’s Realm opens with a work of the same name by Dvorak followed by Richard Strauss’ exuberant Horn Concerto No. 1 performed by acclaimed young French Horn player, Lin Jiang. The second half belongs to Smetana featuring music from his wildly popular comic opera The Bartered Bride and culminating in two much-loved symphonic poems from My Fatherland – The Modau and From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields.



The concert will be conducted by German conductor Eckehard Stier who launched last year’s APN News & Media Premier Series, impressing audiences with his jazz chops post-concert playing the keyboard with other APO musicians. Maestro Stier will also conduct the APO the following week at its GEON Opera in Concert performance of Salome on Friday 18th April.



In Nature’s Realm will be presented by popular Radio New Zealand Concert broadcaster Kate Mead who will provide a “road-map” to the works, telling the audience a bit about the background of the pieces and highlighting any special parts to listen out for.



“Audiences at our Vero Aotea Series concerts have responded positively to introductions to the works by presenters or, in some cases, the conductor. In addition to enhancing their enjoyment of the works, this also gives the concerts a more convivial and inclusive atmosphere,” says Ms. Glaser.



The works selected for Vero Aotea Series concerts have broad appeal.



“All of the works in the In Nature’s Realm concert are imbued with a strong European folk flavour and pay homage to the glory of nature. As with many pieces in the Vero Aotea Series programmes, you may not recognise them by name but you will recognise the melodies,” says Ms. Glaser.



Single tickets to In Nature’s Realm (from $20-$65) are available from Ticketek, Ph 09 307 5139, www.ticketek.co.nz.