An afternoon of musical masterpieces awaits the audience at Holy Trinity Church Tauranga, when Bay of Plenty Symphonia, under the baton of Michael Joel, perform their first concert of 2025, featuring one of the most popular concertos ever written for the violin.
It was an inauspicious beginning: poorly rehearsed and with the solo part given to the soloist at the last minute, it was no surprise that the first performance of Beethoven’s violin concerto was not a success. It took a young Josef Joachim to champion the concerto 38 years later for it to be recognised as one of the greatest of all concertos. Bay of Plenty Symphonia is delighted to welcome Lara Hall, lecturer of violin at the University of Waikato, to perform this epic concerto with the orchestra as the centrepiece of its first concert of 2025.
Less famous, but no less of a masterpiece, “Appalachian Spring” by American composer Aaron Copland was written for the ballet company of the legendary American choreographer, Martha Graham. The ballet suite, originally scored for only 13 players, was later rearranged for full orchestra, including harp, piano and percussion. Copland consciously uses a spare and direct musical language with plain melodies and lively rhythms to evoke the simple life of the ballet’s protagonists in 19th century rural Pennsylvania. Listen out for the well-known Shaker tune “Simple Gifts” in the last section of the suite!
Rounding off the afternoon of musical delights will be Debussy’s Petite Suite. Written for four hands at the piano originally, the Suite was inspired by Paul Verlaine’s set of poems: Fêtes Galantes. It takes us on a journey from gently rolling waves in the first movement to a playful
second movement and finally some joyful dance rhythms carrying the listener to the end of the suite.
Under 18 are free - no ticket needed.
Generously supported by Tauranga Western Bay Community, Tauranga Harbour City Lions' Club, Bay Insurance, The Weekend Sun, Stratum Consultants, Volcanic Hills Winery, Seeka and the Omokoroa and Bethlehem Community Churches Opportunity Centre.
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