
DSO - Brahms and Mataatua: A Journey in Music
Brahms's monumental Piano Concerto No. 2 was written when his compositional powers were at their peak.
From a deceptively benign opening with a lone horn melody, the movements in turn evoke grace and turmoil, leading to an exhilarating climax.
Acclaimed Wellington pianist Jian Liu returns to deliver the dazzling technique and musical depth this great work calls for.
We celebrate Matariki with The Journey of Mataatua Whare, a newly commissioned work by Dame Gillian Whitehead which commemorates 100 years since the Mataatua Wharenui returned to NZ.
The work tells the Wharenui's story: from the carved meeting house's creation in Whakatāne, the loss of Ngāti Awa control over it, its travels and mistreatment, its return to NZ for Dunedin/Ōtepoti's 1925 Great Exhibition and then Tūhura Otago Museum, and its final return to Ngāti Awa in Whakatāne.
Three distinguished NZ singers and a selected chorus will join DSO's Principal Guest Conductor James Judd on stage for this very special event.
For more information please visit | Brahms and Mataatua a Journey in Music
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Midwinter Carnival preparation begins
The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival team has transformed the Meridian Mall with an array of twinkling lantern displays. The annual glow-up of the Meridian, which has been a staunch supporter of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival for many years, gives the public a chance to get an early taste of the carnival, which will be held on June 27-28, from 4pm-9pm, at First Church. Meridian Mall shoppers will discover a glowing world of pond life, with radiant lily pads, flowers, koi fish and frogs at the entrance, star drops twinkling above the food court, a giant kraken entwined with a glowing ship, and seals on the top floor. These displays are inspired by last year's carnival theme "Creatures of the Deep", and will light up the Meridian Mall until July. Dunedin Midwinter Carnival's team of lantern artists, led by Filipa Crofskey, are hard at work creating new giant lanterns on this year's theme "Wings of Wonder". The public will also be able to take part in small lantern-making workshops from this weekend at the Meridian. Meridian Mall marketing manager Stacey Johnston said the mall was " delighted to provide a welcoming space for the much-loved lantern-making workshops, helping to keep this cherished community tradition glowing brightly". People attending the community workshops will make bumblebees, owls, gulls and a rocket. This year, the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is also partnering with Tūhura Otago Museum, which will host a lantern-making workshop for adults as part of their "Wine and Design" series. Tūhura Otago Museum senior events co-ordinator Jessica Hatfield said the museum was lucky to be able to collaborate "with such amazing local events and help showcase the mahi that goes into them". Each workshop participant will get free entry to the carnival and be invited to take part in one of the smaller processions which will wind around the grounds of First Church. • Workshop timings: Family workshops will be held at the Meridian Mall on May 25-26, June 1-2, June 8-9 and June 15-16. Adult workshops will be held at Tūhura Otago Museum on May 25-26, June 1-2, June 8-9, and June 15-16. • Volunteers Required: The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is calling for volunteers to help support the not-for-profit event on June 27-28 at First Church. Positions range from workshop assistants to information stand crew. No experience is required, but volunteers must be 15 years or older. • Dunedin Midwinter Carnival event tickets, workshop bookings and volunteer registration are available online at


Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
DSO - Brahms and Mataatua: A Journey in Music
Brahms's monumental Piano Concerto No. 2 was written when his compositional powers were at their peak. From a deceptively benign opening with a lone horn melody, the movements in turn evoke grace and turmoil, leading to an exhilarating climax. Acclaimed Wellington pianist Jian Liu returns to deliver the dazzling technique and musical depth this great work calls for. We celebrate Matariki with The Journey of Mataatua Whare, a newly commissioned work by Dame Gillian Whitehead which commemorates 100 years since the Mataatua Wharenui returned to NZ. The work tells the Wharenui's story: from the carved meeting house's creation in Whakatāne, the loss of Ngāti Awa control over it, its travels and mistreatment, its return to NZ for Dunedin/Ōtepoti's 1925 Great Exhibition and then Tūhura Otago Museum, and its final return to Ngāti Awa in Whakatāne. Three distinguished NZ singers and a selected chorus will join DSO's Principal Guest Conductor James Judd on stage for this very special event. For more information please visit | Brahms and Mataatua a Journey in Music


Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
‘Rising Stars' give extraordinary concert
Dunedin Concerto Competition "Rising Stars" Finalists' Concert Friday, May 16 Dunedin Town Hall The extraordinary talent of Otago and Southland's young classical musicians was to the fore in Friday's joyful and impressive Dunedin Concerto Competition "Rising Stars" finalists' concert. Featuring a top-notch showcase by the Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) in the first half, followed by the brilliance of the three teenage concerto competition finalists performing as soloists with a combined DYO and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (DSO), the concert was a wonderful celebration. Conducted by David Burchell, the DYO showed great composure and spirit in their thoroughly enjoyable performance of popular classics, including Offenbach's Overture to La belle Helene, Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (arranged by Guiraud), Arnold's Little Suite no. 2, Prokofiev's Montagues & Capulets from the Romeo & Juliet Suite, and Coates' Knightsbridge March. Each of these works contain complex and tricky passages, with the DYO rising to the challenge under Burchell's firm and steady direction, and bringing the musicality and emotion of each piece to the fore. It was a joy to see these young musicians perform so well. The numbers of musicians on stage swelled in the concert's second half, as the DSO and DYO players came together to provide sterling and sensitive support to the three concerto competition soloists under the baton of principal guest conductor James Judd. Ozan Biner-McGrath, 16, was first to take the stage for a nimble and accurate performance of the first movement of Mozart's sparkling Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor. Tackling the work's many technical demands with aplomb, Biner-McGrath brought the tension to the fore, and impressed with a fabulous cadenza written by Beethoven. Next up was Roy Zhang, 18, with a nicely balanced performance of the first two movements of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major. Zhang showed great patience and control, allowing the second movement's contemplative nature to shine. Last to take the stage was cellist Portia Bell, 18, with a remarkable performance of the first movement of Dvorak's fiendishly difficult Cello Concerto in B minor. Filled with virtuosic moments, the piece offered many beautiful melodies, Bell making the most of every opportunity. There was a short prizegiving for preliminary section winners while the expert adjudicators — violinist Monique Lapins, pianist Jian Liu and horn player Samuel Jacobs — tackled the difficult task of choosing the winner. The final places were Biner-McGrath in first, Bell in second, and Zhang in third, each receiving generous prizes sponsored by the HTowers Charitable Trust. In the end, music was definitely the winner on the night. Congratulations to all involved in this successful event.