Warm up your winter with a fiery NZSO debut  

Internationally acclaimed Spanish pianist Javier Perianes makes his long-awaited NZSO debut this month in Wellington and Christchurch. Joining him is rising star conductor Emilia Hoving, fresh off a string of acclaimed concerts. 

Audiences will be treated to an exciting programme in Firebird: Ravel & Stravinsky (Wellington 17 July, Christchurch 19 July). The evening includes two virtuosic showpieces for piano: Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, bursting with jazzy rhythms and echoes of the composer’s Basque roots, and Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain, a lush, evocative tribute to Andalusian landscapes. 

Javier, praised by the Sydney Morning Herald for making the piano “sing and glitter with alert, polished brilliance,” brings a deep emotional intensity to the stage.  

“Music isn’t a profession,” he says. “It’s a way of understanding life.” 

Hoving, winner of the Finnish Critics’ Prize for Best Newcomer in the Arts, was hailed by Australia’s Limelight Magazine as “authoritative… passionate and dramatic.” Her Aotearoa New Zealand debut promises a fresh interpretation of timeless works. 

The programme opens with Kiwi composer John Ritchie’s Papanui Road, capturing the vibrancy of 1950s Christchurch, complete with tram bells and bustling energy. The night concludes with a blazing performance of Stravinsky’s The Firebird—a dazzling orchestral gem woven with Russian folklore.  

Fun fact: Stravinsky himself conducted the NZSO in this very work in Wellington, 1961. 

Don’t miss this electrifying winter concert filled with colour, charisma, and unforgettable musical storytelling.  

Enjoy the National Youth Orchestra this weekend in Wellington and Auckland 

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra’s NYO Adventure: Rachmaninov & Strauss concerts in Wellington tomorrow and Auckland on Sunday include a world premiere by Kiwi composer Luka Venter. 

As Luka, the NZSO NYO 2025 Composer-in-Residence, recently told the New Zealand Listener, there’s more than one reason for naming their new work glacier. 

“I wanted to write something that wasn’t about disintegration, that wasn’t explicitly about the loss of glaciers,” Luka said.  

“I wanted more to convey a sense of energy. It was important that it wasn’t just the human view of the natural world; I wanted to write something that is in the natural world.” 

Aotearoa New Zealand’s most gifted young orchestral musicians take centre stage in this year’s NYO Adventure in association with the Adam Foundation, led by internationally acclaimed Canadian conductor Adam Johnson. 

Talented Kiwi soprano and 2024 Lexus Song Quest semi-finalist Madison Horman joins the orchestra to perform Richard Strauss’ 4 Lieder, Op. 27—a tender and radiant song cycle originally penned as a wedding gift for Strauss’ beloved wife, soprano Pauline de Ahna. With her artistry refined at London’s Royal Academy of Music, Madison brings fresh insight and heartfelt expression to these intimate works. 

The programme also highlights the unrestrained passion of Strauss’ Don Juan, followed by Rachmaninov’s sweeping Second Symphony—a lush, emotionally charged journey through yearning, joy, and ecstatic triumph. 

Join us in celebrating the bold spirit and exceptional talent of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra as they embark on this unforgettable musical adventure. 

Pacific song and symphony: Mana Moana returns to Wellington! 

The NZSO and the Signature Choir are proud to bring hit concert experience Mana Moana back to Wellington for two unforgettable nights on 24 and 25 July. 

Blending orchestral richness with the soaring harmonies of Pacific song, Mana Moana celebrates the vibrant musical traditions of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. Under the baton of Brent Stewart and hosted by beloved comedian and actor Tofiga Fepulea’i, this extraordinary collaboration continues to captivate audiences at home and abroad. 

Since its debut in Wellington in 2022, Mana Moana has continued to grow — with two hit performances in Auckland, and last month its international debut at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for two sold-out shows. 

Signature Choir Music Director Helen Tupai describes the experience as “magical,” saying the partnership with the NZSO allows the 50-strong choir to reimagine treasured Pasifika songs while keeping their heart and heritage intact.  

“It’s hard not to get emotional,” she says, “when performing songs that mean so much to our communities.” 

This year’s performances feature highlights from past concerts alongside exciting new arrangements, including the beloved Samoan classic Manu o le Vaveao, Nepituno by Queen Salote Tupou III, and a spirited Fijian medley. 

The Friday 25 July performance is already sold out so don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of Pacific song and symphony. 

Don’t miss Joyce DiDonato’s Masterclass presented in partnership with TANZOS 

If the Aotearoa New Zealand debut in November of international opera sensation and Grammy Award-winner Joyce DiDonato wasn’t exciting enough – we’ve now added an extra special event! 

Hailed “an American treasure” (OperaWire), Joyce is renowned for her generosity as an artist and for the energy and inspiration she imparts to the next generation of talented artists. The NZSO is delighted to partner with The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera School (TANZOS) to offer four emerging professionals the opportunity to gain insight and expertise from Joyce at a Wellington masterclass. 

TANZOS is renowned for its extensive training programme which provides a bridge between the university experience and the practical high-level performance standard needed for those who wish to pursue a professional opera career. 

The masterclass is a free event at the Michael Fowler Centre on 27 November (6.00pm-8.00pm), before her performances with the NZSO in Wellington (28 November) and Auckland (29 November). 

Places are limited so bookings are essential. The masterclass will also be livestreamed from the NZSO’s YouTube channel, details of which will be shared nearer to the date.

Don't miss your chance to hear one of the biggest stars of the opera world performing on Aotearoa New Zealand soil for the first time. Book the masterclass and concert now to avoid disappointment.  

Star conductor André de Ridder to be NZSO’s next Music Director 

The NZSO is thrilled to announce the appointment of renowned German conductor André de Ridder as our next Music Director, beginning in 2027.  

A dynamic and adventurous musician, Maestro de Ridder first took to the podium for the NZSO in 2023 for a lauded three-concert festival, instantly captivating musicians and audiences alike. 

“From the first rehearsal, I felt energised by the orchestra’s brilliance and warmth,” says Maestro de Ridder. “It’s an honour to become part of this incredible ensemble and contribute to Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural landscape.” 

Internationally celebrated for his stylistic versatility — from early Baroque to genre-blending contemporary works — Maestro de Ridder will also assume leadership of the English National Opera in 2027. 

Equally exciting, New Zealand conductor Gemma New, the NZSO’s Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor since 2022, will continue to collaborate with the orchestra as Artistic Partner from 2027. Audiences have embraced Maestra New’s visionary programming and passionate performances of major works like Holst’s The Planets and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. 

NZSO Board Chair Carmel Walsh welcomed Maestro de Ridder’s appointment as “a coup for the NZSO and the nation,” praising his instant rapport with both orchestra and audience. She also celebrated the ongoing partnership with Maestra New, recognising her “extraordinary leadership and deep bond with our audience.” 

NZSO Chief Executive Marc Feldman added that Maestro de Ridder brings “tremendous artistic energy and a reputation for bold, captivating programming,” ensuring a vibrant future for orchestral music across Aotearoa. 

Maestro de Ridder returns this August for our Immerse festival series in Wellington and Auckland — featuring enchanting classics, tāonga puoro, and a family concert hosted by Bret McKenzie. Don’t miss it! 

Music legend gifts viola to Alex Lindsay Award Trust

The NZSO and the wider music community were saddened in March by the passing of former NZSO Principal violist, Vyvyan ‘Vyv’ Yendoll, aged 84. However, the legacy of this extraordinary music legend lives on. 

The Alex Lindsay Award Trust is extremely grateful to learn from Vyv’s son Symon and daughter Claire, that he bequeathed his viola to the Alex Lindsay Awards. It was his wish that the money from the sale of his viola be used to make further awards to the next generation of talented, young orchestral musicians who are supported by the Alex Lindsay Awards.  

In April Vyv's great granddaughter Armani presented the viola to NZSO violist, Belinda Veitch, also secretary of the Alex Lindsay Awards and former student and colleague of Vyv’s, at his Celebration of Life service, held in Wellington.  

Brian Shillito, former NZSO Sub-Principal Viola and past Treasurer of the Alex Lindsay Awards, as well as long-time stand partner and friend of Vyv’s, also attended.  

Vyv’s viola was made for him by highly regarded Palmerston North-based luthier Tom Warren in 1981. He played this viola in the NZSO, and its warm, resonant tone was appreciated by all his NZSO colleagues. 

Vyv’s daughter Claire says: “We are so happy our wonderful dad chose to do this for you all, it was what he wanted, and we are so happy to honour his wishes.” 

Vyv was an inspiring and encouraging leader both musically in the orchestra and in his long-term role as Chairperson of the Alex Lindsay Memorial Awards Trust. He was always incredibly supportive of young musicians. The current trustees endeavour to continue his legacy and honour his memory with this generous gift.  

The Alex Lindsay Award was founded in memory of former NZSO Concertmaster Alex Lindsay, who died in 1974. 

Administered by current NZSO players, the award aims to support young musicians in their studies and who wish to pursue an orchestral career. Since its inception in 1975, the award has granted more than $400,000 to young Kiwi musicians.