Beatles symphony has heart

Dunedin Town Hall was packed on Saturday evening when the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, guest artists and conductor/arranger Tom Rainey, of Christchurch, poured heart and soul into interpreting the Beatles repertoire.

DSO 2023 Concerts

Season's Greetings

Meri Kirihimete! Our best wishes for Christmas and the Festive season!

Hooked on the classics

The six-person DSO band was travelling around schools in Dunedin and Queenstown to share their love of music with the pupils, she said.

Review: 'Amalia Plays Mendelssohn'

A well-balanced programme, superbly performed, kept a large town hall audience spellbound during Saturday’s Dunedin Symphony Orchestra concert, featuring fabulous New Zealand violinist Amalia Hall.

Hall brings the romance of Mendelssohn alive

Auckland-based violinist Amalia Hall arrives in Dunedin today for final rehearsals with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra ahead of its "Amalia Plays Mendelssohn" concert on Saturday night.

Returning ‘home’

Conductor James Judd will perform with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra for the first time next month after Covid-19 scuttled his last attempt to come to the southern city, he tells Rebecca Fox.

Newsletter October/November: James Judd - Conductor

Think back to what you were doing on 28 August, and then scroll forward in your mind to your plans for 8 November, a few days after our concert.

Newsletter October/November: Amalia Hall - Violin Soloist

I’m so thrilled to be performing Mendelssohn’s beautiful violin concerto with Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and maestro James Judd.

Newsletter October/November - From Philippa Harris, General Manager

Early summer greetings! As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to say ‘thank you’ to all our audiences, our sponsors and our donors for their very generous support, and also our funders who have demonstrated that they too are in for the long haul with us.

DSO Otago Schools Tour 2022

DSO’s schools tour is a highlight of every year, as six of our players visit primary and intermediate schools to introduce kids to classical music and the instruments of the orchestra. This year, we will visit not only schools based in Dunedin, but also schools in Oamaru, Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell and Alexandra, over a two week period in mid-November.

Strangest of Angels: Bold and successful production

A near-capacity house gave full-hearted applause for a truly memorable performance of Ken Young’s opera The Strangest of Angels at the Mayfair last night, with the composer also conducting the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra Players.

Insightful opera and classical music

Excitement is building for Dunedin-based soprano Anna Leese, who is at the centre of two major projects during the Dunedin Arts Festival — an opera and the St Paul’s at One series.

Review : 'Rhapsody', The Star

Spectacular piano fireworks combined with lyricism and nostalgia in Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s spellbinding 'Rhapsody' concert on Saturday night.

Virtuoso piano performance admired by all

A near-capacity audience was dazzled by a stellar performance of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini Op 4 at the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday.

Following her dreams

Pianist Sara Lee is looking forward to competing overseas again after Covid-19 drove competitions online. She talks to Rebecca Fox about her favourite composers.

A ‘Rhapsody’ of drama, nostalgia and magic

Dunedin-based conductor Kenneth Young is looking forward to a "rewarding musical time" when he takes the podium for Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s "Rhapsody" concert on Saturday.

DSO and conductor deliver a triumph

A stunning programme of adventurous music, from the Baroque era to the modern day, enthralled a large audience at Saturday’s Dunedin Symphony Orchestra matinee series concert Crouching Tiger.

Spellbinding orchestral show

The packed house was spellbound from the opening chord. They were exultant in their prolonged cheering and stamping at the close of the technically challenging and aesthetically electrifying performance of Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger by cellist Ashley Brown and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Umberto Clerici.

Bow to baton a ‘good show of how life can change’

They say every cloud has a silver lining and for Australian-based Umberto Clerici, Covid’s silver lining has been a change in career direction. He tells Rebecca Fox about taking up the baton. Seven years ago Umberto Clerici took to the Dunedin Town Hall stage to perform a cello concerto.

A golden opportunity

Working alongside conductor Umberto Clerici this week, as the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra prepares for this weekend’s Crouching Tiger matinee concerts, is a thrill for assistant conductor Leonard Weiss.

Monster Mash’ a grand success!

The stage at Dunedin Town Hall was bursting at the seams on Saturday night, as experienced and emerging performers from across the region came together for joyous community concert Mozart’s Monster Mash. Photo credit : DSO/Pieter du Plessis

August 2022 message from Philippa Harris, General Manager

After many months of inactivity it’s been a real joy to be back in the concert hall with ‘Bach and Beyond’, ‘Celebrating Matariki – Whakanuia Matariki’ (part of the Puaka Matariki Festival), the Ukraine Benefit Concert and ‘Mozart’s Monster Mash’.

Kenneth Young, conductor for 'Rhapsody'

The DSO and I are going to have the most rewarding musical time bringing you this programme. The nostalgia of Douglas Lilburn’s 'Drysdale Overture', combined with the evocative nature of Vaughan Williams London Symphony is a magical combination.

Sara Lee, piano soloist for 'Rhapsody'

Rachmaninoff is a special composer for me. Not only is he one of my favourite composers, but he was born in Moscow, Russia, a city where I studied for a long time.

Introducing 'Crouching Tiger' soloist, Ashley Brown

The first movie I ever bought and first DVD I ever owned was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by Ang Lee. It’s a truly beautiful and movingly-told story. If you haven’t seen it recently, I recommend experiencing it in the original Mandarin (with subtitles) rather than overdubbed, as there’s a musicality to the language, with rhythm and pitch.

Introducing 'Crouching Tiger' conductor, Umberto Clerici

I’m very excited I’m coming back to the DSO, this time in the role of conductor (in 2015 I was the soloist for Elgar’s Cello Concerto). Covid changed a lot in everyone’s lives, and for me it was a time of deep reflection and development.

Youth performers entertain crowd

The Dunedin Town Hall was filled to almost capacity with family and friends of the over one hundred youthful performers assembled under the most generous conductor Peter Adams for an evening of Mozart’s most popular works on Saturday evening.

Monster moment for three soloists

Three of Dunedin’s upcoming musical stars will have the rare opportunity to perform solos with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra at the Dunedin Town Hall in Mozart’s Monster Mash. Rebecca Fox discovers the nerves are tingling.

Young musicians join Mozart concert

A remarkable 26 pupils of Dunedin music teacher Ella George will perform on stage with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra this Saturday night in its giant community concert Mozart’s Monster Mash.

Talented performers support Ukraine

A capacity audience gave generously to the Benefit Concert for Ukraine staged in the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday afternoon - to the tune of more than $15,000

DSO on top form with sparkling accompaniments

From the first spine-tingling notes sung by soprano Rebecca Ryan, it was clear that the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s Celebrating Matariki concert was going to be something special.

A return to the takiwa

The world’s first taonga pūoro concerto will be performed in Dunedin on Saturday as part of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s celebration of Matariki. Rebecca Fox talks to conductor Marc Taddei and vocalist and taonga pūoro player Ariana Tikao about the importance of the occasion.

Collaborative DSO Matariki concert breaks new ground

The world’s first taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments) concerto and a world premiere by a Dunedin composer will make the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s contribution to the city’s Puaka Matariki festival a very special celebration.

Concert joyful, energetic

The joy of coming together was palpable among the large audience at Sunday's Bach & Beyond matinee concert.

Percussionist takes baton

The last time Brent Stewart performed with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra he was the fill-in percussionist. This time he will step on to the stage as the orchestra’s conductor. He tells Rebecca Fox about his many passions.

Thrill of live music returns for DSO

DSO principal flute Luca Manghi will feature in the "Bach and Beyond" concerts on Saturday and Sunday, performing as soloist in the centrepiece work, Bach’s Flute Concerto.

Notes June/July 2022 - Philippa Harris General Manager

Exciting times – concerts are back! Subscription bookings are rolling in, tickets are on sale, musicians are practising, and the conductor and soloist will be flying in soon to start rehearsals. And there are plenty of musical treats lined up for us.

'Celebrating Matariki - Whakanuia Matariki' soloists Ariana Tikao and Alistair Fraser

Ariana Tikao describes the background to the two items she and Alistair Fraser will perform in the 'Celebrating Matariki - Whakanuia Matariki' concert with the DSO on Saturday 2 July, 7.30 pm in the Dunedin Town Hall.

Introducing 'Bach and Beyond' flute soloist, Luca Manghi

I have very fond memories of the Bach Concerto for flute. It was on one of the first flute cassette tapes I ever bought when I was 10 years old.

Introducing 'Bach and Beyond' conductor, Brent Stewart

I am thrilled to conduct and celebrate Dunedin Symphony Orchestra's return to the shared joy of live music-making with a programme of uplifting and unmissable works.

'Celebrating Matariki - Whakanuia Matariki' conductor Marc Taddei

Working with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra is always a joy for me.

DSO welcoming new conductors for the season

The power of live orchestral music to entertain and bring people together in uncertain times is at the heart of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s 2022 season, announced recently.

Symphony orchestra’s return a triumph!

The complete and utter joy of making and experiencing music was palpable at Dunedin Town Hall on Friday night as a Covidlimited audience were treated to a superb performance by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.

Music finds a way in a pandemic

Covid-19 has come with a silver lining for pianist Diedre Irons — she is in demand and has had her work heard internationally online. She tells Rebecca Fox about windfalls and keeping work fresh.

Appeal aims to help DSO deal with challenges

The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra will launch its inaugural Keep Making Music Appeal on Monday.

DSO Schools Tour: sharing classical music with kids

Q: What do the theme from James Bond, Fauré’s Pavane and Paul Desmond’s Take Five have in common? A: They’re all being performed by a small ensemble from the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra who are touring primary and intermediate schools in the Otago Region at the moment. Upbeat caught up with one of the musicians, flutist Feby Idrus, to find out how things were going so far.

Orchestra given years of backing

The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra has been granted $270,000 in the first multi-year grant issued by the Otago Community Trust to an organisation in the arts and culture sector

DSO November 2021 Newsletter

Read all about our upcoming concerts and activities in our Newsletter for November 2021.

Sunshine on a damp Dunedin day

A programme of sunny, pastoral music was the perfect antidote to Sunday’s damp, chilly weather, as the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra concluded its matinee series concerts.

Interview with Conductor Marc Taddei

Conductor Marc Taddei has been waiting for a chance to perform Knecht’s Grand Symphonie — Pastorale. He tells Rebecca Fox of the ODT about the unusual pairing with Beethoven’s Symphony No 6.

Orchestra brings beautiful melodies to the fore

Strings, woodwind and voice all had their time to shine in the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s Songs and Serenades matinee series concerts at the weekend

Performance truly momentous occasion!

A large audience was treated to a wonderful evening of opera excerpts in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday when New Zealand international singers Anna Leese and Simon O’Neill delivered thrilling performances from operas they have sung in prestigious venues such as Covent Garden and New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

Rach 2 - Russian Romantics Concert Review

A near-capacity house was thunderous in its applause for an evening with pianist Jian Liu and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Over.

Russian Romantics soloist Jian Liu share his thoughts.

A near-capacity house was thunderous in its applause for an evening with pianist Jian Liu and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Over.

Guest Pianist shines as conductor lifts DSO.

A near-capacity house was thunderous in its applause for an evening with pianist Jian Liu and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Over.

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s 50 years a joy!

For a city of this size, Dunedin's symphony orchestra is a real triumph. Since its formation 50 years ago, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength, and on Saturday evening a packed town hall (including the "Gods'') was treated to a momentous Gala 50th Anniversary Concert.

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