eNotes June 2026

Acclaimed cellist brings his glorious Guadagnini for Romeo & Juliet

Internationally acclaimed cellist Li-Wei Qin owns two cellos, and for his concerts with the NZSO, starting tonight in Wellington, he’s chosen to perform on the one he’s had the longest: a Joseph Guadagnini made in 1780. 

“It has a punchy and direct sound,” he told RNZ Concert in an interview ahead of joining the orchestra for our Romeo & Juliet tour, which also includes Palmerston North (9 June), Hastings (11 June), and Auckland (12 June). 

Li-Wei, who last performed with the NZSO 16 years ago, will play Barber’s intensely lyrical Cello Concerto. While he regularly plays the beloved concerto, he’s conscious that it isn’t performed as often as Barber’s Violin Concerto. 

He has his theory on why: “It is extremely demanding, technically speaking. It’s one of the hardest works for the cello,” he says. 

Not that it’s ever deterred him. “I play this concerto quite a bit because I’ve always enjoyed the language that Barber brings to us. He sits in a very sweet spot between late Romanticism and the likes of Stravinsky, more avant-garde. It speaks to me very well.” 

“The Cello Concerto is much more complex rhythmically [than Barber’s Violin Concerto] and has a kind of Latin rhythm, pulse, and vibe in the first movement. It’s very different, but I enjoy playing this piece tremendously.” 

With the NZSO led by renowned Australian conductor Benjamin Northey, this unforgettable concert also features selections from Prokofiev’s dramatic masterpiece Romeo and Juliet, and celebrated Kiwi composer Kenneth Young.  

The selections from Prokofiev’s groundbreaking and beloved ballet score range from the courtly grandeur of the irresistible Dance of the Knights to the circling, slicing energy of Death of Tybalt. 

Opening the night is Young’s sweetly nostalgic Douce Tristesse, described as a “drifting, Ravelian waltz” (New Zealand Herald). 

Youth Orchestra to celebrate WWF‑New Zealand’s 50th Anniversary 

This July, the NZSO National Youth Orchestra will honour the 50th anniversary of WWF‑New Zealand with two powerful ocean‑themed concerts in Wellington and Auckland. 

NYO La Mer, presented in association with the Adam Foundation, brings together Aotearoa’s finest young orchestral musicians under the baton of acclaimed conductor Dane Lam. The programme features four works that capture the beauty, drama, and environmental significance of the world’s oceans. 

At its heart are two masterpieces inspired by the sea: Debussy’s La Mer, a landmark of orchestral colour, and Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, a vivid portrait of coastal life and human struggle. The concert also includes the New Zealand premiere of Hawaiian composer Michael‑Thomas Foumai’s Kealaikahiki Suite and the world premiere of Pray for the wanderer by Jack Bewley, the NZSO NYO 2026 Composer‑in‑Residence. 

NZSO Chief Executive Marc Feldman says the ocean‑themed programme offered a meaningful opportunity to celebrate WWF‑New Zealand’s milestone year. 

“At the NZSO, we have always held a deep appreciation for nature. It inspires composers and performers alike, and reminds us that, like art, the natural world sustains us — emotionally, culturally, and economically. Art and nature shape our identity, strengthen our wellbeing, and connect us across generations.” 

“We are delighted to align the 2026 National Youth Orchestra with WWF‑New Zealand’s 50th Anniversary. Music can amplify the call to protect our oceans, and environmental stewardship is enriched when it is expressed and appreciated through art.” 

WWF-New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Jamie Fowler says the collaboration is a fitting way to mark the organisation’s long-standing commitment to protecting Aotearoa’s marine environment. 

“Aotearoa has one of the largest marine environments in the world, home to extraordinary biodiversity found nowhere else. Our ocean is deeply valued by New Zealanders, and it’s crucial we protect this taonga for generations to come.” 

“Music has a unique ability to connect people emotionally to the natural world. This concert will be a powerful celebration of the ocean that sustains us all, and we hope it inspires people to care for and protect it into the future.” 

WWF-New Zealand is part of the WWF International Network, the world’s largest independent conservation organisation, and is celebrating 50 years in Aotearoa in 2026. 

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra also acknowledges the generosity of funders The Fame Trust, Dragon Community Trust and Trinity College London in making NYO La Mer possible. 

Tickets to NYO La Mer are just $10.

16-year-old piano prodigy makes his NZSO solo debut   

This July we invite audiences to experience an exciting musical milestone as 16-year-old pianist Shan Liu makes his NZSO soloist debut in Let There Be Light.  

Performing Prokofiev’s dazzling Piano Concerto No. 3, Shan joins acclaimed Spanish conductor Jaime Martín for concerts in Wellington and Christchurch. 

Audiences will hear a programme full of colour, drama and emotion, from Kaija Saariaho’s shimmering Lumière et Pesanteur to Tchaikovsky’s powerful Symphony No. 4. A former NZSO Emerging Artist and featured soloist with the 2024 NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Shan is already captivating listeners here and overseas with his extraordinary musicianship. 

Maestro Martín, who returns to conduct the NZSO for the first time since 2018, brings international acclaim and a wealth of experience to the podium. Together, he and Shan promise a concert full of energy, heart and inspiration — and a wonderful chance to hear one of New Zealand’s brightest young musicians live. 

NZSO brings Stravinsky’s Petrushka to schools in June 

As part of our Romeo & Juliet tour in June, the NZSO is delighted to present this year’s Schools’ concert series, bringing the magic of live orchestral music to thousands of young people. 

The first performance was seen by more than 1,800 students in Wellington yesterday. Next week we bring this exciting live experience to Palmerston North (9 June) and Hastings (11 June). 

This annual series is one of the NZSO’s most cherished education initiatives, offering students the chance to experience a full symphony orchestra up close. 

At the heart of this year’s programme is Stravinsky’s Petrushka — a colourful, high‑energy tale of a magical puppet show at a bustling Shrovetide Fair. Led by guest conductor Ben Northey and brought to life by NZSO Music Education Animateur Chris Lam Sam, the performance introduces students to three unforgettable puppet characters and a dramatic twist that has captivated audiences for more than a century. 

Alongside Petrushka, students will hear two orchestral favourites: 

Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet.   

These iconic works showcase the power and excitement of a live orchestra and connect beautifully with the themes of our national tour. 

Designed especially for school‑age audiences, the concert blends storytelling, interactive moments, and an original song written by Chris Lam Sam for this production. At around one hour long, the performance fits easily within a standard school timetable. 

We look forward to welcoming young listeners to these vibrant, story‑filled concerts and inspiring the next generation of music lovers across Aotearoa. 

REforms Live: Shayne Carter and the NZSO perform together in a fortnight  

The countdown has begun! 

Audiences have only two weeks to wait before experiencing the acclaimed album REforms performed live for the first time by Kiwi indie-rock legend Shayne Carter and the orchestra. 

The NZSO’s much‑anticipated recording collaboration REforms with Carter was released late last year to universal praise. The album entered the Independent Music NZ Albums chart at No. 3 and the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums chart at No. 5. 

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 Carter’s 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. 

Great music from start to Finnish  

Pietari Inkinen returns to the podium with the NZSO for the first time since 2014, leading two unforgettable back-to-back concerts that celebrate great music and long-standing artistic partnerships.  

Audiences in Wellington and Auckland will have the chance to experience Maestro Inkinen in two strikingly different programmes: the glowing drama of Radiance and the rich Nordic storytelling of Myths & Legends. Together, they offer a rare opportunity to welcome back a conductor whose musical connection with the NZSO remains as strong as ever. 

Radiance sees this acclaimed conductor reunited with the equally acclaimed Kiwi tenor Simon O’Neill in a powerful selection of excerpts from the composer’s Tannhäuser and Parsifal — music that promises both splendour and intensity. Inkinen’s internationally recognised command of Wagner, combined with O’Neill’s extraordinary voice and stage presence, makes this a performance not to miss.  

In Myths & Legends, Inkinen is joined by NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen for a programme alive with drama, atmosphere and colour. Leppänen is the soloist in the New Zealand premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Violin Concerto No. 2, alongside Sibelius’ Pohjola’s Daughter and the thrilling Lemminkäinen Suite. Together, these concerts promise a moving homecoming for Inkinen and a memorable musical experience for audiences. 

Radiance is in Wellington on 14 August and Auckland on 21 August. Myths & Legends is in Wellington on 15 August and Auckland on 22 August. 

Support the 2026 NYO Appeal! 

It is thanks to the generosity of our supporters that the NZSO National Youth Orchestra celebrates its 67th year in 2026. In preparation for NYO La Mer in Wellington and Auckland in July, the nation’s best musicians aged under 25 will experience week-long intensive programme for an unforgettable orchestral experience of the highest quality. 

The NYO has shaped our musical landscape for over six decades and with your continued support, we can ensure that future generations of talented musicians have access to the same transformative experiences. By investing in the NYO, you are fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

How Your Support Makes A Difference 

Every contribution, no matter the size, opens doors for Aotearoa's gifted young musicians, making the NYO programme accessible and life changing. Your support fuels their journey to becoming our future music leaders. 

$1- $299: General Donation - Ensure the NYO remains a vital stepping stone for aspiring musicians. 

$300: Green Room Donation - for programme recognition 

$600: Sponsor a Chair - Connect directly with a young musician's journey 

$2,000: Sponsor a Section - Invest in orchestral collaboration and teamwork.