Conductor James Feddeck

Violin Andrew Beer

Gillian Whitehead Tai timu, tai pari for violin and orchestra (world premiere)
Rachmaninov Symphony No.2

A new work from iconic Aotearoa composer Dame Gillian Whitehead is always something to look forward to.

Originally scheduled to premiere in September 2021, Tai timu, tai pari for violin and orchestra, was created especially for APO Concertmaster Andrew Beer. The work is inspired by the view of the hills and harbour from Dame Gillian’s studio on the Otago Peninsula. 

It is paired with Rachmaninov’s expansive, romantic and life-affirming Symphony No.2. After the humiliating response to his First Symphony, the Second Symphony proved to be immensely popular, even to this day. The rich orchestration and passionate melodies show the composer at the peak of his art.

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Outstanding Norwegian trumpet phenomenon Tine Thing Helseth joins the APO for the first time to play two little-known but dazzling pieces.

Penderecki’s hugely entertaining Concertino includes a flugelhorn and a contralto trumpet which effortlessly evokes nostalgic, late-night jazz.

The Russian composer Aleksandra Pakhmutova wrote her Concerto in 1955, but it only took off in the West in the late 1970s. Her music is direct and tuneful, in the best Russian tradition, and it’s a terrific pairing with the profusion of melody in Rachmaninov’s sprawling, life-affirming symphony. 

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Accessibility: If you are attending a show or event in our venues and have an access need, find more information about accessibility here. You can also take a virtual accessibility tour of the venue.