Get ready to Rach with virtuosic pianist & superstar conductor  

Superstar conductor Vasily Petrenko returns to New Zealand in a fortnight to lead the NZSO for concerts in Wellington and Auckland featuring acclaimed pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk. 

Maestro Petrenko, whose appointment as music director of Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021 was hailed as “transformational” by The Guardian, is no stranger to Gavrylyuk including performances with the pianist and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 

“He is one of the leading pianists of his generation, it’s been a pleasure to be on stage with him in LA and I'm looking forward to this upcoming collaboration,” the conductor tells the NZSO. 

For the concerts Alexander Gavrylyuk plays Rachmaninov, Maestro Petrenko also leads the orchestra for the New Zealand premiere of Lera Auerbach’s acclaimed 2011 work Icarus, and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. 

He says Bartók’s masterpiece will require considerable virtuosity by every member of the NZSO as there are many solo performances. “This piece is very special because it reflects many aspects of Bartók's life and 20th-century world history.” 

The conductor has long championed Auerbach’s Icarus in concerts, including performances with the Royal Philharmonic and Britain’s National Youth Orchestra.  

“Icarus is a well-known legend, and Lera's approach to it, between ‘self-challenging’ and ‘self-belief,’ is very special. To me this is one of the best contemporary compositions,” he says. 

Maestro Petrenko last conducted the NZSO in 2015. “I still remember the people's warmth, both in the orchestra and in the public. I have always wanted to come back.”  

“The orchestra performing at their absolute best (and beyond) every time is my goal and the biggest success, in my view. And to improve society's life – wherever we are performing, both emotionally and materially. The greatest motivation is to make the world better!” 

Hailed as “an extraordinary talent” by legendary Russian pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, Gavrylyuk in his NZSO debut performs Rachmaninov’s brilliant Rhapsody of a Theme of Paganini, inspired by the music of violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini. 

The pianist’s performances of Rhapsody have been praised as “note-perfect as well as being interpretively impressive. His bright and crisp pianism made the music gleam” (Bachtrack). 

For Alexander Gavrylyuk plays Rachmaninov, the NZSO acknowledges the support of the Hungarian Embassy, recognising 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Hungary. 

Wellington
Fri, 15 Nov, 6.30pm
Michael Fowler Centre

Auckland
Sat, 16 Nov, 7.30pm
Auckland Town Hall 

NZSO Foundation 2024 Annual Appeal 

Whether it’s concert performances or life-changing music education opportunities for young musicians, the generosity of NZSO Foundation donors make an enormous difference to what the NZSO can do each year.  

For more information about our Annual Appeal and how you can become an NZSO Foundation donor, click on the link below. 

Experience out-of-this-world music & star violinist

The NZSO is joined by Grammy-nominated German violinist Christian Tetzlaff this month for a stellar evening of music, including Gustav Holst’s beloved The Planets. 

Tetzlaff, likened to “a rockstar” (Der Tagesspiegel), makes his NZSO debut performing Elgar’s passionate and complex Violin Concerto. 

The Planets: Elgar & Holst is performed in Wellington and Auckland with the orchestra lead by NZSO Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New. 

“Christian is one of the most visceral, exceptional artists on the planet,” says Gemma. “The violin sounds like a living creature under him; it is captivating and magical to experience his music making.” 

New opens the concert with music written as a contemporary companion piece to The Planets by celebrated Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Her 2005 work Asteroid 4179: Toutatis was inspired by the asteroid with an orbit which passes closest to Earth. 

The Planets, composed between 1914 and 1917, features seven movements relating to the character of a planet from the Solar System. Jupiter – The Bringer of Jollity, Mars – The Bringer of War and Neptune – The Mystic, are abiding favourites and influenced composers, including film music legend John Williams. 

“The Planets is not so much about the worlds beyond, as it is about what lies within. Each movement paints a human being, dripping with personality, emotion, and psychology,” says Gemma. 

Neptune – The Mystic includes an atmospheric performance by Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. 

Wellington
Fri, 22 Nov, 6.30pm
Michael Fowler Centre

Auckland
Sat, 23 Nov, 7.30pm
Auckland Town Hall

Christian Tetzlaff to perform solo recital & masterclass in Christchurch

As well as playing with the NZSO for The Planets concerts, virtuoso violinist Christian Tetzlaff performs a solo recital and host a special masterclass exclusively in Ōtautahi Christchurch. 

Tetzlaff will play three landmark works for solo violin by music giants JS Bach and Bartók at Christchurch’s The Piano on 20 November. 

Tetzlaff made a name for himself with recordings of Bach’s sonatas and partitas. For his Christchurch recital he’s chosen two of Bach’s best: his Partita No. 2 and Violin Sonata No. 3. Partita No. 2 is best known for its exhilarating Chaconne. 

Tetzlaff completes the programme with Bartók’s unforgettable Sonata for Solo Violin, which opens with a chaconne, considered a nod to Bach. 

On 19 November he also hosts a masterclass with young violinists at Christchurch’s The Arts Centre. Free tickets are available for Cantabrians to watch the masterclass – just click on the link below. 

Christchurch
Wed, 20 Nov, 7.30pm
The Piano

NZSO Member exclusive – audio-visual spectacular at Space Place 

To celebrate The Planets tour this month, for the first time ever the NZSO partners with the Space Place at Carter Observatory in Wellington for an event exclusively for NZSO Members! 

Stellar Strings on 21 November is an unforgettable sensory experience which combines jaw-dropping visuals projected on the full-dome planetarium and live musical accompaniment by a NZSO string quartet. 

Take a journey through the cosmos, from mysterious exoplanets and star constellations to the wonder of the Milky Way and beyond. 

We have two sessions of this exhilarating and exciting one-hour show to choose from at 6pm and 7.30pm. Don’t miss out! 

NZSO Members can also enjoy free performances as part of their membership, including our first ever NZSO Conducting Fellowship concert (5 Nov) and the NZSO Todd Young Composers Awards (7 Nov). See links below. 

Book tickets to our 2025 Season and save! 

Why pay continuous booking fees when you can join as an NZSO Member from just $10 a year? 

Starting from $10, you can secure your 2025 tickets now! As an NZSO Member, you’ll enjoy no hidden fees and have immediate access to discounted tickets, plus a range of exclusive benefits. 

Don’t miss out – 2025 concert tickets from $22 and so much to choose from! 

American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, a multi-Grammy Award and Olivier Award winner, performs for the first time in Aotearoa New Zealand with the NZSO led by Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New.  

British saxophonist and UK chart-topper Jess Gillam, 26, is the youngest ever soloist to perform at Last Night at the Proms. She makes her Aotearoa New Zealand debut performing Glazunov’s romantic Saxophone Concerto and joins the orchestra for Rachmaninov’s epic Symphonic Dances.  

Oscar-winning musician and comedian Bret McKenzie hosts the family-friendly Creepy-Crawly Carnival as part of our Immerse Rumakina 2025 festival with the orchestra led by acclaimed German conductor André de Ridder.  

Other international stars include Grammy-winner Daniil Trifonov and fellow pianist Javier Perianes, Finnish violinist and conductor Pekka Kuusisto, Austrian cellist Kian Soltani and Welsh flautist Emily Beynon, alongside Kiwi violinist Amalia Hall, taonga pūoro specialist Jerome Kavanagh Poutama and NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen.  

Legendary Japanese maestro and Bach expert Masaaki Suzuki, Australia’s Simone Young, Portugal’s Joana Carneiro, Italy’s Umberto Clerici, Hungary’s Gábor Káli and NZSO Music Director Emeritus James Judd are among the international conductors leading the NZSO next year. 

Gemma New’s 2025 concerts also include our season opener Pictures at an Exhibition and Mahler’s extraordinary Sixth Symphony, a monumental work involving 110 musicians.  

The NZSO also tours a selection of Baroque masterpieces, and a special Summer Brass programme led by celebrated American musician and conductor Gail Williams. 

New Zealand works in 2025 include Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh’s Papatūānuku and the world premiere of Victoria Kelly’s Stabat Mater.  

Canadian Adam Johnson conducts the NZSO National Youth Orchestra in concerts featuring Kiwi soprano Madison Horman. 

Enjoy world-class soloists & conductors live on NZSO+ in November

Can’t make it to our exciting concerts Alexander Gavrylyuk Plays Rachmaninov or The Planets: Elgar & Holst in Wellington and Auckland this month? No problem! 

You can enjoy our Wellington performances of both concerts via a livestream on our easy-to-use streaming portal NZSO+.  

Experience via livestream acclaimed conductor Vasily Petrenko lead the NZSO with pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk on 15 November in Wellington, or Gemma New conducting the orchestra on 22 November in Wellington, featuring violinist Christian Tetzlaff. 

From just $5.99 a month, an NZSO+ Membership gives you access to these great performances live online, and to our extensive archive of concert performances and exclusive content, including whānau-friendly and fun music education videos, our popular Storytime series and much more.