Newsletter August 2025 - Message From Philippa Harris, General Manager

Hot on the heels of the successes of ‘Brahms & Mataatua: A Journey in Music’ and ‘Sublime Schubert’, suddenly we’re at the end of the Forsyth Barr Matinee Series and the International Series. Who better to round the concert series off than some of New Zealand’s very best conductors and soloists.

In mid-September, James Judd, DSO’s Principal Guest Conductor, will be marshalling a large number of musicians on stage. For the Saint-Saëns symphony, the orchestra will be joined by 2 pianists (playing on one piano), and also David Burchell playing the splendid Town Hall organ, ‘Norma’. Saint-Saëns Third Symphony is a favourite around the world’s concert halls, and Saint-Saëns also liked it too. Of the symphony, he commented: ‘What I have accomplished here, I will never achieve again.’

We’re very much looking forward to soprano Anna Leese’s return, and she will be joined by the powerful combination of City Choir Dunedin and Choirs Aotearoa Otago-Southland Choir.

In August we are delighted to feature one of New Zealand’s leading violinists, Amalia Hall whose playing has been described as having ‘blazing insight and dazzling virtuosity’. She will be performing Argentinian composer Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, which includes direct quotations from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Conductor for this August concert is Brent Stewart, one of New Zealand’s most versatile musicians. He directs a diverse programme which starts with the world première performance of a work by ex-Dunedinite Nathaniel Otley. The concert concludes with one of Mozart’s last three symphonies, No. 39, written when he was at the height of his powers.

We look forward to welcoming you to these concerts