Orchestra Wellington’s season started with a bang with Marc Taddei’s inventive programming drawing an integrating arc over two masterpieces from the 18th century and two from the 20th century…
…So the audience was treated to a music history lesson as well as four wonderful performances.
A fantastic concert made up of unusual works tied together by an interesting idea. The audience applauded with gusto. The subscribers do love Taddei and his extraordinary programming. I walked out into the night with a big grin on my face , as did – I noticed – most of the performers.
“As usual for this excellent orchestra Mr. Taddei was the hero of the day, his consummate authority evident in each work.”
And so it finished: Orchestra Wellington’s ‘Circle of Friends’ series, centred on the 19th-century intersection of Johannes Brahms and Clara and Robert Schumann, culminated in a compelling performance of the latter’s Scenes from Goethe’s Faust…
..a sharp, innovative bit of programming.
Robert Schumann was inspired by Goethe’s tragic play Faust, and spent nine years writing Scenes from Goethe’s Faust. The work requires impressive forces: full orchestra, nine vocal soloists, and an adult and a children’s choir. It is an ambitious undertaking and has not been performed in New Zealand until now. Orchestra Wellington is to be commended for presenting it.