eNotes April 2026

New Zealand’s finest trombonist joins Resonance concerts this week

For the NZSO’s Resonance concerts in Wellington and Auckland on Thursday and Friday, the orchestra’s Section Principal Trombone David Bremner, one of the country’s finest trombonists, will perform the New Zealand debut of an acclaimed work by two‑time Grammy Award winner Bryce Dessner. 

Bremner replaces internationally renowned Dutch trombonist Jörgen van Rijen, who reluctantly withdrew from the concerts after a recent injury affected his ability to play. 

Van Rijen was to have performed the world premiere of celebrated American composer Andrew Norman’s Slip: Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, written specifically for him. 

Dessner’s Trombone Concerto, which Bremner will perform this week instead, was first premiered by van Rijen in 2020. 

NZSO Music Director Designate André de Ridder, who conducts the Resonance concerts, has worked several times with Dessner, including on recordings. 

As a composer and multi‑instrumentalist, Dessner is also widely known outside the orchestral world as a member of American band The National, and for collaborations with Taylor Swift, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and other artists. He earned his first Oscar nomination this year for Best Original Song. 

“I have always loved the trombone and how flexible it is as an instrument,” Dessner has said. 

Resonance also features two powerful and deeply moving works by music giants Ravel and Shostakovich. 

Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess), inspired by a courtly Renaissance dance, reimagines with elegance and warmth the story of a long‑ago Spanish princess. 

Such is the scale and immensity of Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony that the NZSO will have 92 musicians on stage, conducted by Maestro de Ridder. Written in 1943, the symphony is one of Shostakovich’s most powerful and tragic wartime works—and a deeply human response to suffering and resilience. Marked by brooding intensity and emotional depth, it remains a clarion call for peace. 

André de Ridder appears with generous support from The Diessl Family. 

Don’t miss our unforgettable concerts in Hamilton and Tauranga 

Be part of a milestone moment as the NZSO makes its debut performance in Hamilton’s stunning new BNZ Theatre—a state‑of‑the‑art venue that promises an exceptional concert experience for audiences and musicians alike.  

This special occasion marks the beginning of a new chapter for orchestral music in the region, and we’re thrilled to celebrate it with a programme bursting with energy, colour, and audience favourites. 

The excitement doesn’t stop there. Following the Hamilton premiere on 8 May, the NZSO returns to Tauranga on 9 May, bringing this vibrant programme back to one of our most enthusiastic and welcoming musical communities. Each city will have the chance to experience the same unforgettable evening of symphonic brilliance. 

Music Director Emeritus James Judd and the NZSO present three works that were adored from their very first performances, alongside one new work that is sure to enjoy the same acclaim. 

Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony premiered to wildly ecstatic applause, with its famous Allegretto instantly encored.  

Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony, nicknamed ‘Little Russian’ but more accurately thought of as his Ukrainian Symphony, shines with its loving use of Ukrainian folk melodies. Similarly, New Yorker Jessie Montgomery draws on folk and popular traditions in her work Strum, inspired by Appalachian fiddle music and jazz—resulting in a piece that, as the composer writes, “transforms into ecstatic celebration.” 

At the heart of the programme sits Fanfare Kotahitanga, a brand‑new work by acclaimed Kiwi composer Anthony Ritchie—a fresh commission that promises to shine brightly among the evening’s beloved classics. With its character, craft, and irresistible personality, Ritchie’s piece is set to become another musical gem in this concert of favourites, offering audiences something both new and immediately memorable. 

Join us for a spectacular celebration of music old and new, performed by your national orchestra in two of the country’s most vibrant cultural centres. This is an experience not to be missed. 

Aesop’s classic comes alive: NZSO presents The Tortoise and the Hare 

Whānau looking for a magical day out need look no further than the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s delightful new interactive concert, NZSO Stories Alive! at Te Papa. 

Specially crafted for young audiences aged 4–7, this playful retelling of Aesop’s timeless fable. The Tortoise and the Hare blends music, storytelling, and vibrant imagery into an experience that will charm children and adults alike. 

Led by NZSO Animateur Chris Lam Sam, a dynamic performer known for his energetic connection with young audiences, a quintet of NZSO musicians guides children through the famous tale of slow-and-steady triumphing over fast-and-fickle. As the story unfolds, the concert weaves together live musical performance, lively narration, and brand-new illustrations by acclaimed artist Stephen Templer. 

But this isn’t just a show to sit and watch — it’s an event that invites children to take part. Young concertgoers will be encouraged to sing, move, and help tell the story, making it an ideal first introduction to live orchestral music. After the final note is played, families will even have the chance to meet the musicians in person. 

Presented in collaboration with Te Papa and supported by the Freemasons Lankhuyzen/Whetu‑Kairangi Masonic Trust, this concert promises an uplifting, memorable outing for tamariki and their whānau with two performances on Friday 17 April and Saturday 18 April. 

The NZSO and DSO come together for historic concert next month

The countdown is on—we’re now just over a month away from one of the biggest orchestral events Dunedin has ever seen.  

On 15 May, the NZSO and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra unite on stage at Dunedin Town Hall for a once‑in‑a‑generation performance featuring 120 musicians and a 150‑strong choir.   

If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, now is the time—this extraordinary night will sell fast. 

This landmark collaboration celebrates the DSO’s 60th anniversary, bringing the two orchestras together for the first time in decades to perform Mahler’s monumental Second Symphony, Resurrection—a work often described as the Mount Everest of classical music. The evening also includes the world premiere of Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie’s Fanfare Kotahitanga, commissioned by the NZSO. 

“Over the last seven decades, the NZSO has loved bringing music to Dunedin,” says NZSO Chief Executive Marc Feldman. “While we’ve developed close partnerships with the DSO and the city’s choirs and soloists, we’ve rarely stood together on the same stage. Mahler’s Resurrection is the perfect reason to do so—it will be a night to remember.” 

Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony remains one of his most admired works, consistently ranked among the greatest symphonies of all time. Leading this enormous musical force is internationally renowned conductor James Judd, joined by acclaimed soprano Anna Leese, mezzo‑soprano Deborah Humble, and the City Choir Dunedin. 

Maestro Judd, Music Director Emeritus of the NZSO and Principal Guest Conductor of the DSO, has a deep connection to this work—having conducted it for his farewell concert as NZSO Music Director in 2007. 

Ritchie’s brand‑new Fanfare Kotahitanga will spotlight the combined brilliance of the NZSO and DSO brass sections, adding an exciting contemporary spark to this already thrilling programme. 

Get your tickets now to this historic musical event.   

Titan: a dazzling night of musical storytelling in Christchurch and Wellington

This May, Christchurch and Wellington are in for an unforgettable evening as world‑renowned Canadian violinist James Ehnes makes his NZSO debut in a programme that moves from mythical transformation to symphonic grandeur. 

Audiences can also celebrate the return of the NZSO’s internationally acclaimed Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New, fresh from her concerts with Houston Grand Opera. 

Titan opens in a shimmering, dreamlike realm with Thomas Adès’ The Origin of the Harp, where the legend of a sea nymph’s metamorphosis is brought to life through Adès’ haunting, atmospheric sound world. 

From this misty beginning, the night bursts into colour with Korngold’s Violin Concerto. Performed by Ehnes—a two-time Grammy Award winner and Gramophone’s 2021 Artist of the Year—the concerto glows with technicolour brilliance. His extraordinary range of tone and articulation finds an ideal partner in Korngold’s lush, neo‑Romantic writing. 

The evening culminates in Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan. Written when Mahler was still best known as a conductor, Titan announced him as a composer of astonishing vision. From its primordial opening to its playful birdcalls, sudden mood shifts, and blazing finale, the symphony captures nothing less than the creation of a vast musical universe. 

Join us for a night where myth, virtuosity, and orchestral brilliance collide on stage. 

REforms Live: Shayne Carter and the NZSO Unleash a Sonic Spectacle 

The NZSO’s much‑anticipated album collaboration REforms with Kiwi indie‑rock legend Shayne Carter was released last December to universal acclaim. Now you can experience REforms performed live for the first time by Carter and the orchestra this June. 

REforms entered the Independent Music NZ Albums chart at No. 3 and the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums chart at No. 5. This week it returned to No.4 in the Aotearoa Albums chart. 

REforms: Shayne P. Carter and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is presented at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre on 19 June as part of the multi-arts Lōemis Festival. 

The heft and glory of the NZSO collide with the Shayne P. Carter songbook for the world premiere of this formidable work—10 tracks “reformed” in orchestral technicolour while maintaining the integrity of the originals. 

Classic songs like Randolph’s Going Home and If I Were You spar with new numbers like Left to Defend. Guitar and orchestra do battle on the mighty Crystalator. Songs from Carter’s solo Offsider album expand from their original two‑finger piano primitivism into widescreen ‘epicness’. Others glower with the drama of orchestral restraint. 

With arrangements by Tane Upjohn Beatson, REforms is a singular and purposeful artistic statement—an immersive, all‑encompassing performance from a world‑class orchestra and one of Aotearoa’s greatest singer‑songwriters. 

NZSO takes flight: Air NZ to showcase Storytime  

Air New Zealand passengers from April can enjoy every episode of the NZSO’s unique Storytime videos as part of its in‑flight entertainment on international services. 

This milestone partnership between the national orchestra and our national airline means that travellers from around the globe—whether visiting Aotearoa or heading overseas—will be able to experience the artistry, innovation, and our unique take on presenting beloved children’s stories with an exhilarating mix of guest storytellers and music written by acclaimed New Zealand composer and performed by the NZSO. 

For the NZSO, this collaboration represents far more than visibility. It’s a celebration of the creativity of Aotearoa New Zealand composers, performers, and storytellers. Many of the videos included in the in‑flight programme highlight music and narratives grounded in te ao Māori, contemporary New Zealand life and our nation’s rich musical heritage. To have these stories shared with such a broad international audience is both an honour and a meaningful step in elevating New Zealand’s cultural voice globally. 

Air New Zealand’s decision acknowledges the orchestra’s commitment to creating high‑quality digital performances, livestreams, and educational content that reach audiences well beyond the concert hall. We are proud that Storytime—crafted by our musicians, collaborators, composers, and narrators—will now accompany travellers as they embark on their own journeys. 

We look forward to welcoming new listeners who discover the NZSO for the first time at 10,000 kms, and to giving returning travellers a familiar musical connection to home. 

Kia rere te pūoro — let the music fly!