Don’t miss legendary conductor Masaaki Suzuki lead the NZSO next month   

The legendary conductor, harpsichordist and organist Masaaki Suzuki leads the NZSO for the first time next month in an exhilarating programme of masterpieces by music’s big three: Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.

A world authority on conducting Bach and celebrated for his expertise of other Baroque-era composers and performances with period instruments, Maestro Suzuki is equally at home with his exciting interpretations of Mozart and Beethoven.

“The biggest pleasure in working with symphony orchestras is the opportunity to work on ‘new’ repertoire compared to Baroque orchestras,” he’s said.

“I have great joy in performing these compositions. This repertoire require a dynamic and steady sound, and it is delightful to be able to accomplish this relatively easily in comparison to period instruments.”

In Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton, Legends: Mozart & Beethoven features Mozart’s turbulent and groundbreaking Symphony No. 25, composed when he was just 17. One of only two symphonies Mozart wrote in the key of G Minor, the composer squeezed dynamic changes, pulsing rhythms and unsettled melodies into 24 minutes of mesmerising and astonishing music.

Long considered Beethoven’s game changer on what a symphony could do, his Third Symphony ‘Eroica’ has been described by musicologist Paul Henry Lang as “the greatest single step made by an individual in the history of the symphony and in the history of music in general.”

In Wellington and Auckland Legends includes one of the most famous of Bach’s works, his Orchestral Suite No.3, featuring the beloved and sublime movement ‘Air’.

Hailed by Britain’s The Guardian as “simply breathtaking”, Maestro Suzuki is one of the most revered figures in classical music. Since founding the Bach Collegium Japan in 1990, he has established himself as a leading Bach interpreter.

His illustrious career includes collaborations with renowned period ensembles such as Collegium Vocale Gent and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, as well as major symphony orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

His extensive discography of all of Bach’s major choral works and complete harpsichord compositions has garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Maestro Suzuki previously toured New Zealand in 2017 with the Juilliard415 ensemble.

Make May a magical month with Mana Moana

In just four weeks the NZSO and Signature Choir, in collaboration with Live Nation, present Mana Moana at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

This breathtaking fusion of symphony and Pacific songs features the 80-strong Signature Choir alongside the NZSO. Following its triumphant 2023 performance, Mana Moana is back to showcase traditional and contemporary songs from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau.

Signature Choir music director Helen Tupai has said that the choir was “incredibly honoured” to bring Mana Moana back to Spark Arena.

“This show is a true celebration of community, culture, and the richness of Pasifika music,” she said.

“By fusing the power of Pasifika choral excellence with the grandeur of a full orchestra, we create something truly magical—an experience that moves the heart and uplifts the spirit.

“After the overwhelming response to the last Mana Moana, we knew we had to bring it back.

“Seeing our community’s joy and pride as their songs came to life in such a groundbreaking way was life-changing, and 2025 will take that experience to the next level”.

With the NZSO led by Brent Stewart, Helen says “performing these significant songs with a world-class orchestra brings immense pride and emotion.”

The programme includes iconic pieces such as Faliu le la, celebrating Samoa’s beauty, Siueli o e pasifiki, penned by Queen Salote Tupou III, and the cherished Fijian farewell song Isa lei.

Since 2022, the NZSO and Signature Choir have collaborated to honour Pasifika languages and stories, producing acclaimed recordings and videos with RNZ. Their live performance at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre reached over one million views on social media, paving the way for the unforgettable 2023 Spark Arena event.

Get your tickets now to this extraordinary musical celebration!

Grammy Award-winning pianist debuts with NZSO next week 

One of the most acclaimed pianists of the 21st century makes his highly anticipated New Zealand debut with the NZSO in just one week in Pinnacle.

Grammy Award winner Daniil Trifonov will perform Rachmaninov’s extraordinary Piano Concerto No. 3 in Wellington and Auckland with the NZSO led by renowned Italian conductor Umberto Clerici. The Auckland Pinnacle concert has sold out and Wellington tickets are selling fast!

The 34-year-old virtuoso has been lauded worldwide for his spellbinding interpretations of the great composers, especially his musical hero, Rachmaninov. Britain’s The Guardian described him as “perhaps the most exciting pianist to have emerged internationally in the last 30 years, and peerless today as a Rachmaninov interpreter.”

The New York Times declared, “Few artists have burst onto the classical music scene in recent years with the incandescence of Daniil Trifonov.” The Times in London called him “the most astounding pianist of our age.”

Having first performed as a soloist with an orchestra at just eight years old, Trifonov made his Carnegie Hall debut at 18 and won the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition at 20. Today, he continues to astound audiences as one of the most sought-after pianists in the world. “I adore Rachmaninov’s work,” Trifonov has shared.

As a special treat, Daniil will also present an NZSO Foundation piano masterclass in Wellington on 09 April.

Pinnacle: Respighi & Rachmaninov, presented in association with The New Zealand Herald, also whisks audiences to Italy with composer Hector Berlioz’s dazzling Roman Carnival Overture and Ottorino Respighi’s evocative Fountains of Rome.

Maestro Clerici, Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, first conducted the NZSO in 2022. Wellington’s The Post praised his performance of Handel’s Messiah as “a sensitive and moving interpretation… and throughout the orchestra played beautifully.”

NZSO’s free Storytime for Kids returns to Te Papa!

Bring the whole whānau and experience the magic of music and storytelling at Te Papa these school holidays!

Musicians from the NZSO will bring to life three beloved picture books by Aotearoa authors, all connected by the theme of stars and the power of family and friends coming together to help one another.

Journey through How My Koro Became a Star, a moving Māori tale of love and memory, where a young boy learns how his grandfather will always be with him, shining in the night sky. Discover the beauty of friendship in Colour the Stars, where two friends - one seeing, one blind - explore the colours of the world in their own special way. Then dive into The Bomb, a vibrant and humorous story of perseverance, as a young child dreams of making the ultimate splash, with the encouragement of their whānau.

Led by NZSO Conductor-in-Residence Hamish McKeich and narrated by well-known children’s presenter and NZSO Animateur Chris Lam Sam, this concert is an interactive experience designed for tamariki and their families to enjoy together. With enchanting live music performed by NZSO musicians, these heartwarming tales leap off the page in a fusion of sound, words, and imagination. Adding an extra burst of excitement, Offenbach’s Infernal Gallop (better known as the Can-Can) will have audiences on the edge of their seats!

Storytime for Kids is presented in collaboration with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Wed, 16 April
10.30am - 11.15am: Whānau Concert
12.30pm - 1.15pm: Relaxed and Sensory Friendly Whānau Concert followed with a meet and greet with some of the NZSO musicians.

Thu, 17 April
10.30am - 11.15am: Whānau Concert
12.30pm - 1.15pm: Whānau Concert

Pictorial treasures from the NZSO archive online

A new online exhibition gives New Zealanders an exciting glimpse behind the scenes, on the road and in the concert hall with the NZSO over its celebrated 78-year history.

From the Archives – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, a special collaboration with Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision and the orchestra, includes historical photographs digitised for the first time. The exhibition also features stunning historical film footage, including a new digitised version of Igor Stravinsky conducting the orchestra in 1961.

The NZSO has displayed historical photos at some concerts, most recently our 75th anniversary performances in 2022 and at Pictures at an Exhibition this year. However, this is the first time we have partnered with Archives NZ and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision for an online exhibition that can be viewed at any time and by anyone in the world.

NZSO Acting Chief Executive Barbara Glaser says the orchestra is especially grateful for Archives New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision and their highly skilled staff for making the exhibition possible, sourcing their extensive collections, and their expertise in hosting it.

“We are also delighted that the collection features photographs taken by former and veteran NZSO players, including the prolific Tom Shanahan,” she says.

“A superb feature of the exhibition is that it takes you on a journey from the orchestra’s earliest days to witness copious milestones and achievements through the decades. While some changes over time, such as fashion, are noticeable in the images and films, you will see that one thing has remained constant in nearly 80 years: the passion and musicianship of our players on and off stage, and the rapturous support of audiences.

“This is why the NZSO is a vital part of New Zealand’s history and culture and will continue to be so in the decades to come.”

Make a difference for our musicians

NZSO Principal Piccolo Johanna Gruskin is supported by The Brandt Family, who are part of a dedicated community of donors who support NZSO musicians.

We salute our donor community for their generosity and getting behind the orchestra. The NZSO is reliant on private support to expand its reach and output. If you are interested in joining a like-minded community of orchestra enthusiasts with opportunities to deepen your engagement with the NZSO, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch: fundraising@nzso.co.nz

NZSO violist Vyv Yendoll remembered

All of us at the NZSO were saddened that our former Principal violist Vyvyan Yendoll passed away in Wellington on 15 March, aged 84.

During his years in the orchestra (1965-2009) “Vyv”, as he was known, had a loyal audience following and an enormous impact on the orchestra. To this day he’s fondly remembered by his NZSO colleagues and the wider music community. Vyv was also a passionate music teacher and held in high regard by many students.

Among his many achievements, Vyv performed as a soloist during the NZSO’s first overseas tour to Australia with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in 1974. The Sydney Morning Herald praised Vyv and NZSO cellist Wilfred Simenauer as “splendid soloists”.

Among the many tributes to Vyv, conductor Benjamin Northey hailed him as “a true legend of New Zealand music”.

NZSO Associate Concertmaster Donald Armstrong said Vyv was one of only a few musicians who can cross generations and engage equally with people of all ages.

“I lost count of how many concerts we played together, the times he made me laugh so much I could barely breathe, and his absolutely outstanding playing that was an inspiration. There are many musicians in New Zealand and overseas who have benefited from his inspiration, his support and belief.

“As a young guy in the NZSO, he was incredibly supportive to me, and even way back then he could entertain us all with his ebullient personality.”

Vyv will be deeply missed by his NZSO colleagues and his family and friends in Aotearoa and the UK.