Programme ‘quite a ride’

Versatile, Wellington-based conductor Brent Stewart has returned to Dunedin this week amid preparations for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s "Amalia Plays Piazzolla" matinee series concerts.

The two concerts, to be held on Saturday from 5pm and Sunday from 3pm at King’s & Queen’s Performing Arts Centre, will showcase a programme ranging across more than two hundred years.

Stewart, who last conducted the DSO during the "Synthony" concert in Christchurch last year, which fused electronic dance music and classical music together, is thoroughly enjoying working with the orchestra again.

"We are preparing a fascinating programme for this weekend’s concerts, from Nathaniel Otley’s extraordinary new work to one of Mozart’s greatest symphonies — it’s going to be quite a ride," Stewart said.

Opening the concert, Otley’s piece — the rising tide: these former wetlands, inspired by the environmental changes in South Dunedin — required orchestra members to adopt a range of unusual techniques to bring the composer’s vision to life.

"We are bringing Nathaniel in to all of our rehearsals of the piece, to give support, feedback and answer the musicians’ questions," Stewart said.

"He has a lot of very specific requirements for sounds, including using quarter tones, specific timbres, tongue slaps, fingernails on the timpani, unusual bowing techniques and even incorporating sculptures.

"It can be quite challenging, so we are doing a lot of workshopping in rehearsals, which has been fascinating."

Otley himself would participate in the performance, controlling sample sounds alongside the orchestra.

"This piece has been Nathaniel’s main focus for this year, so we really want to honour his amazing work by giving it the best possible premiere performance."

The orchestra will then be joined on stage by leading New Zealand violinist Amalia Hall for a performance of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, arranged by Ukrainian composer Leonid Desyatnikov.

Written in 1970, the piece is described as a tango-infused answer to Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons, which includes "quotations" from the original work.

"I am lucky enough to work with Amalia quite regularly in Wellington, and she is a prodigious talent.

"It is impressive how quickly she can learn music by heart and her ear is amazing," Stewart said.

There were moments throughout the piece where the orchestra section leads would play with Hall in a kind-of string quartet formation, and there were many high-spirited moments throughout.

"It’s one of those pieces where you can see the players really enjoying themselves — it’s groovy, uplifting and very accessible.

"I think we are in for a very special performance of this really fun and interesting work."

During his last visit to Dunedin in 2023, Stewart conducted the DSO in a performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, so it is fitting that on his return he will conduct another brilliant late-career masterpiece — Mozart’s Symphony No. 39.

"Mozart’s final three symphonies, which he wrote in a great flurry of activity, are considered among his greatest.

"The Symphony No. 39 has a great sense of dance running through it, and will be a lovely way to round out the concert."

As a freelance conductor, working on developing his career, Stewart is working with a range of musical organisations, including as musical director of Orpheus Choir in Wellington, NZ Secondary School Choir, Orchestra Wellington, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, NZ Opera, NZ Ballet and the DSO.

He was recently named the NZ Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist for 2025.

"I am having a very busy year, which is great and gives me opportunities to continue building my relationships with musical organisations here and overseas," he said.