NZSO set to make Kiwis proud as it takes on Europe

The NZSO has revealed the dates for its upcoming International Tour, further confirming its position among the world’s finest classical ensembles.

This is the most extensive and prestigious international tour ever undertaken by the NZSO in its 63-year history. By invitation only, the Orchestra will perform in the greatest halls of Europe including the hallowed Musikverein in Vienna, which represents the pinnacle for any international orchestra.

Peter Walls, NZSO CEO, says, “The NZSO is developing an enviable reputation in the symphonic world. Our commitment to artistic excellence is putting New Zealand on the world stage.

“As a nation we are good at celebrating our achievements in sport, business and innovation. This is another opportunity for New Zealanders to be proud.”

The NZSO is also delighted to be celebrating the re-signing of Pietari Inkinen as the orchestra’s Music Director.

“Right from my first encounter with the NZSO, I saw that they were highly committed to presenting great symphonic music with a freshness that is contagious,” says Pietari Inkinen.

Pietari is highly regarded internationally, commended by critics on the concert stage and in recordings. He is fast establishing himself as one of the most exciting talents of the new generation of conductors, a rapid rise for a 30-year-old.

Peter Walls says, “We are very fortunate to have Pietari. He is in huge demand internationally and it was a coup for our national orchestra to secure him for another three years. This adds to the NZSO’s international reputation for boldness when it comes to artistic foresight.”

The NZSO will be touring from late October through to mid November, starting in Shanghai at the World Expo Concert and finishing in Hamburg.

The start of the tour falls on the 64th anniversary of the NZSO’s very first rehearsal. For more information about the International Tour visit www.nzso.co.nz

About the International Tour

The NZSO will be travelling to the following venues

· 29 October - Shanghai, China: World Expo Concert

· 3 November - Freiburg, Germany: Concert Hall

· 4 November - Maribor, Slovenia: Narodni Dom Maribor

· 6 November - Vienna, Austria: Musikverein

· 7 November - Lucerne, Switzerland: Concert Hall of the Culture and Convention Centre

· 8 November - Geneva, Switzerland: Victoria Hall

· 10 November - Stuttgart, Germany: Liederhalle

· 11 November - Mannheim, Germany: Rosengarten

· 13 November - Frankfurt, Germany: Alte Oper

· 14 November - Essen, Gerany: Philharmonie

· 15 November - Dusseldorf, Germany: Tonhalle

· 16 November - Hamburg, Germany: Laeiszhalle


Fast facts:

· The NZSO is one of the oldest national symphony orchestras in the world. Established in 1946 as a “peace offensive”.


· There are 90 players in the orchestra.


· The NZSO tours New Zealand all year round, from Northland to Invercargill. When it is not performing, it is based in Wellington.


· The NZSO has created and performed the musical score for dozens of films including The Lord of the Rings, Lovely Bones, Under the Mountain, Dean Spanley, Rain of the Children, Predicament and Separation City.


· The NZSO attracts talented musicians and composers from all over the world who want to belong to New Zealand’s national orchestra.



· In symphonic circles it is very common to have to a mix of nationalities, but the NZSO is unique as 63 per cent of the orchestra is New Zealand born.



· Over one million NZSO CDs have been sold worldwide in the past 10 years.



· Over 100 concerts played annually throughout New Zealand.



New Zealand Symphony Orchestra



The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1946, is the country’s full-size, full-time professional orchestra. It has an establishment of 90 players and performs over 100 concerts annually. Touring within New Zealand looms large in the Orchestra’s activities. All its main symphonic programmes are presented in Auckland and Wellington and, as well as this, the Orchestra visits some 25 New Zealand towns and cities annually.



In August 2008 the Orchestra travelled to China to take part in the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival. During this prestigious tour the NZSO performed at the Forbidden City and the National Centre for the Performing Arts under NZSO Music Director Pietari Inkinen. Pietari Inkinen has received much praise in the national and international press for his outstanding abilities both in concert with the NZSO and in NZSO recordings.



Gramophone magazine described the NZSO’s first recording with Pietari Inkinen as “perceptive and engaging Sibelius from this promising young Finnish conductor”, whilst in the February 2009 issue: …”the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra respond with conspicuous poise and application for their Finnish chief, Pietari Inkinen … a conductor with talent to spare”.



www.nzso.co.nz