New violinist for NZSO's Beethoven concert

Violiinist Hilary Hahn who was to have played Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's upcoming Inkinen Festival has had to cancel due to her pregnancy,

In her place acclaimed violinist Karen Gomyo will make her debut concert with the NZSO. She has performed with NZSO Music Director Pietari Inkinen on a number of occasions. In 2012, she performed Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and the Colorado Symphony in Denver and in 2010, she played Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with Inkinen and the Oregon Symphony.

“This is one of most famous violin concertos ever written and Karen Gomyo is an ideal musician to perform this masterful work composed by one of the world’s greatest composers - Beethoven,” says Pietari Inkinen.

“This lyrical and virtuosic work shows off the violin’s melodic range so its performance will reveal Ms Gomyo’s technical prowess, particularly the cadenza in the third movement, as well as highlight some of the real strengths of the NZSO. I know it will bring people to the edge of their seat.”

A recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2008, violinist Karen Gomyo has been hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “a first-rate artist of real musical command, vitality, brilliance and intensity”. She’s established herself in recent years as a much in demand soloist internationally, performing with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the LA Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, the Danish National Symphony and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.

NZSO Chief Executive Christopher Blake says: “The NZSO is delighted to invite exciting violinist Karen Gomyo to perform three concerts to New Zealand audiences in Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland. She is an inspiring artist who has amassed a multitude of artistic achievements in her career to date including performances with the New York Philharmonic, a recent debut at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and a successful tour around Australia with the Sydney, Queensland and West Australian Symphony Orchestras.

“It will be a real privilege to hear this exciting artist perform one of the most loved works in the violin repertoire, Beethoven’s only Violin Concerto, live with the Orchestra.”

The concert is part of the double-billed Inkinen Festival - an opportunity to watch Inkinen lead an inspiring round up of his signature repertoire and memorable moments conducting the NZSO. The Festival will be Inkinen’s final concert series as Music Director of the NZSO before he assumes his role as NZSO Honorary Conductor from 2016.

Karen Gomyo plays the ‘Aurora, ex-Foulis’ Stradivarius violin of 1703 that was bought for her exclusive use by a private sponsor.

Dates: 

WELLINGTON Michael Fowler Centre June 13

DUNEDIN Town Hall June 16

AUCKLAND Town Hall June 20