One great symphony, five great pianists

Auckland Philharmonia
APN News & Media Premier Series
17 February 8.00pm
Auckland Town Hall

Psathas, Tarantismo
Canteloube, Songs of the Auvergne
Mahler, Symphony No.1, D major (Titan)

Five of the world’s best concert
pianists in action
Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber
April 4 – 11

Next week the APO begins its 2011 season with Mahler’s First Symphony (The Titan), a John Psathas world premiere and Canteloube’s passionate songs from the landscapes of the Auvergne.

Mahler’s First Symphony is the first great symphony of the modern era. The work changed the way in which symphonies were written. Just as Wagner changed the nature of opera so Mahler changed the nature of the symphonic form.

One cannot appreciate modern music until one has encountered Mahler’s first symphony.

Songs of the Auvergne, including the beautiful Baïlero, will feature Australian soprano Sara Macliver who last performed with the APO in Haydn’s The Creation in 2009.

Five of the world’s best concert
pianists in action
Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber
April 4 – 11

Five of the world’s top concert pianists have been confirmed for a week-long music festival in Auckland from April 4-11.

Adopted Kiwi Tamas Vesmas and American born David Lively will travel from Paris while Hoang Pham travels from New York to join local concert pianists Diedre Irons and Stephen de Pledge in the prestigious New Zealand International Piano Festival to be held in Auckland in April.

These acclaimed artists will perform on a Steinway model D concert grand piano at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber.

In addition to their solo concerts, these artists will conduct masterclasses -- an invaluable component to the festival and to musical education within New Zealand.

“Having so many seasoned professionals available in New Zealand at one time is an exciting prospect for our young artists seeking to further their education,” says organizer John Eady. “The masterclasses will provide supreme educational experience for New Zealand’s up and coming musicians.”

Hundreds of piano and music enthusiasts are expected to attend the festival that was created in 2005 by internationally acclaimed concert pianist and Steinway artist, Tamas Vesmas. His vision was to present a piano festival that would expose audiences to some of the world’s top concert pianists.

NZ International Piano Festival is proudly brought to you by the Lewis Eady Charitable Trust and Steinway & Sons.

The 2011 NZ International Piano Festival programme:

Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber

Monday . 4th April - Tamas Vesmas
Schubert - Allegretto in C minor D.915
Six Moments Musicaux D.780
Four Impromptus D. 935
nr.1 Allegro Moderato in F minor
nr.2 Allegretto in A flat major
nr.3 Andante in B flat major
nr.4 Allegro Scherzando in F minor
Debussy - 12 Preludes, Book 1, with projections on screen of Shinya Yu's artworks inspired by the Preludes.

Tuesday . 5th April - Hoang Pham
Chopin - Preludes Op.28
Schubert - Drei Klavierstucke, D.946
Liszt - Variations on a Theme by Bach, S180

Wednesday . 6th April - Sephen de Pledge
Chopin - 3 Mazurkas Op.7 nr.1,2,and 3
Brahms - Six Fantasies Op.118.
12 New Zealand Composers -The 12 Landscape Preludes

Friday . 8th April - Diedre Irons
Beethoven - Sonata Op. 2 #3
Chopin - Nocturnes Op. 27
Chopin - Fantasie in F minor Op. 49
Gillian Whitehead - Tumanako: Journey through an Unknown landscape Ravel - Suite "Le Tombeau de Couperin"

Monday . 11th April - David Lively
Mendelssohn - Three Caprices Op.16
Schumann - Fantasy Op.17
interval
Chopin - 12 Etudes Op. 25