News
recent successes, upcoming appearances: the maxima artist update
March 2010
Pedro returns to New Zealand for the World Premiere of John Psathas' "djinn": Marimba Concerto (2009), specially written for him, and specially commissioned by the Vector Wellington Orchestra. It is also quite likely the first New Zealand composition to be premiered by three orchestras in this country back to back. Marc Taddei will conduct Pedro and the three orchestras, first with the Vector Wellington Orchestra in April, then with the Auckland Philharmonia and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in May.
Pedro is also Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Portuguese Chamber Orchestra, which Maxima tours to China in September and October 2010. The extraordinary programme features the renowned Yellow River Piano Concerto on the 40th anniversary of its transcription by piano virtuoso Yin Chengzong (pictured), with Yin himself at the keyboard -- celebrating his own 60th anniversary as a concertizing pianist. Carneiro will conduct Joly Braga Santos for an introduction to Portuguese music, and the concerts will also feature Karajan Conducting Fellowship winner Christopher Chen. Performance venues to be announced shortly. In the meantime, Pedro's orchestra opens this year’s London Festival on 21 June with a special programme featuring Christina Ortiz in the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2.
Feng Ning continues building his extraordinary reputation with another monumental tour in Australasia -- which already began in January in residence at the QVSS Festival of Chamber Music. He debuts with the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Hong Kong Sinfonietta under music director Wing-sie Yip this month, then plays Melbourne, Tasmania, Adelaide, Christchurch and Wellington in quick succession in August, returning in November to Perth and Auckland. Plans are well advanced for a tour of Russia in October, and this doesn't even mention his European and Asian engagements. He keeps getting invited back, according to published remarks by Artistic Administrator Antony Ernst because: “Feng Ning is someone who combines technical facility that is second to none with what you could only call soul.”
John Chen's Saguaro Trio won first prize at the Hamburg International Chamber Music Competition late last year, and we signed up the Trio right away. (See below)
John and the T’ang Quartet rocked Macau with their performance of Gao Ping last October, and John by himself was well-received in Perth. He returns to Christchurch for the rarely performed Rautavaara: Piano Concerto No. 3 this month, and his line up this year includes among its highlights two prestigious debuts that haven't been officially announced yet, multiple engagements with the Saguaro, and a return to Auckland in September for Mozart's 24th Piano Concerto.
This dazzling ensemble of 23-year-old virtuosi – in two short years – won third, then second, then first prize at three major international competitions. Sometimes winning can be about luck, but placing high in the only three major competitions they’ve ever entered speaks of remarkable ability. Menahem Pressler was the Jury Chairman at the Hamburg competition, and within the space of mere months, this ensemble has numerous engagements already starting throughout Europe. Watch for their appearance soon in Australasia… READ MORE
After a long absence, Australia opens its arms to Edvard Tchivzhel, whose return will feature a debut with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in a powerhouse concert on 25 June. He conducts his own personal score to the mighty Manfred Symphony of Tchaikovsky, and accompanies the legendary Cyprien Katsaris in his first return to Chopin Concerto No. 2 in many years. A programme not to be missed!
Everyone is engaging this brilliant, exceptional soloist! After her BBC Philharmonic in February, upcoming debuts in 2010 include: Warsaw Philharmonic (April), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (May), Eastern Music Festival, North Carolina (July), Sinfonia Finlandia (August), Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (October), and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Nov). Phew! And everyone wants her in 2011, with appearances throughout New Zealand, Beijing, Shanghai, and other parts of Asia in addition to engagements too numerous to list in Europe and the United States. READ MORE
Since his stupendous visit to Queensland last September, Vladimir has divided his time between his two Russian chief conductorships (Voronezh and Saratov), made a 3-concert debut with the Boise Philharmonic in the US, and this month conducts the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. In June he returns for his 23rd consecutive year to Australasia – now as an Australian Citizen – for a series of concerts. As Conductor Laureate, he’ll lead the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in June, and he'll spend time working with young people this trip, both as part of Symphony Australia's Young Performers Awards, and with the Western Australian Youth Orchestra.
Marc started the year with a re-invitation to the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in the US (reviews said "Marc Taddei reminded listeners how easy it can be to feel warm and happy at a concert of music"; "vividly colorful reading"), and after achieving a personal goal to run New Zealand's famous Milford Track, headed to Tasmania for two weekends of concerts last month. The Vector Wellington Season gets started shortly with John Psathas' Djinn Concerto debut (see Pedro Carneiro above), and other highlights include a re-invitation to the Sydney Symphony, two weeks of concerts with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, overseas recordings and much more.
Werner returns in triumph to conduct the Great Classics Concert 2 with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in April with a gem of a programme including Beethoven Symphony No 1, Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis and Mozart's Requiem – the latter introducing New Zealand Soprano Tania Brand (pictured) to Australian audiences, and signalling her return from London. Werner gave a brilliant reading of the Bruckner 5th Symphony in the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall with the Tokyo City Philharmonic at the end of last year, and went straight to Germany afterwards where he has had multiple concerts and recording dates. He returns to Dunedin in May for Chopin, Schumann and Mahler all in one concert, and in August presents an all-French programme.
Cyprien teams up with Edvard Tchivzhel in a red-letter return to Australia in June, playing the Chopin Piano Concert No. 2 and Chopin's Krakowiak on the same programme. Beforehand, he'll be back in Adelaide for MDB Promotions' recital series, and afterwards returns to the Medici Concerts for highly creative recitals. Cyprien returns to Korea for two appearances at the end of May, and to China for a recital in August. There is more planned in Asia in the latter half of the year that hasn't yet been publicly announced, and heaps more in Europe... also Japan.... And don't miss his unique 2011 Liszt Bicentennial concerto offering: "Three Aspects of Lizst", is online for streaming.
Maxima is also expanding in all directions. We have a new web section for special projects, including the Portuguese Chamber Orchestra Tour, John Chen and the T’ang Quartet playing Gao Ping, and the Australian debut of the New Purple Forbidden City Orchestra – a 10-person ensemble of Chinese traditional instruments given new life through the efforts of conductor Liu Shun and internationally revered Pipa virtuoso Yang Jing (杨靖). They perform as part of Queensland Conservatorium’s Encounter symposium in May. Official announcement of other performances takes place on 10 March.
Artistic Administrators will also want to make note of British conductor Andrew Mogrelia. And don't miss our full roster.
Every good wish!
John Ballard
Considerable care has been taken to ensure accuracy in this report. If you find any errors, we would be grateful for your advice.
