Introducing 'Bach and Beyond' conductor, Brent Stewart

After beginning with Bach, the concert propels us “beyond” with an incredibly varied palette of ensemble configurations, musical periods and styles.

Featuring Schubert's 3rd Symphony, we encounter the composer's genius for song with luminous melodies throughout the work, accompanied by folk dances that emulate stamping and hopping, with a vigorous tarantella to close.

It's exciting to work alongside the orchestra's very own flautist, Luca Manghi, with a concerto by J.S. Bach. This work has been teased from works for organ, harpsichord, oboe, eventually finding its way into the new key of E minor for flute. Despite the score's obscure origins, the music is distinctly Bach with his inimitable counterpoint, use of melody and mastery of dissonance. The solo part feels destined for the flute, and in the hands of Manghi, an international-award-winning soloist, you're in for a fantastic display of virtuosic playing.

Showcasing DSO's strings, we have a spectacular Divertimento by the then 16-year-old Mozart,and as a special treat, we also showcase our wind players with Gonoud's gorgeous Petite Symphonie, written for the intimate forces of 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 clarinets, 2 oboes and 1 flute.

I'm delighted that following a devastating pandemic NZ orchestras are finally in a position to move forward, and the appetite to come together as a community in the exhilarating setting of live musical performance is stronger than ever. For myself and my colleagues at the DSO, we cannot wait to have you back, supporting your orchestra as we share the magic with you and herald a new beginning.