NZ Festival 2018
The 2018 NZ Festival took place from 23 February to 18 March. The line-up featured exciting performances from both NZSM and NZSO.
Featuring musicians/engineers from NZSM, the Mechanical Ballet (16 and 17 March 2018) brought a crowd of mechatronic loudspeakers and percussion instruments to life. Drums that struck themselves. Loudspeakers that pivoted and pirouetted. Pianos whose keys tap danced ghostly toccatas. This concert of virtuosic proportions featured two seminal works by US minimalist icon Steve Reich, Drumming Part 1 and Piano Phase, as well as world premieres of works by composers Bridget Johnson, David Downes and Michael Norris.
The NZSO performed the music of Star Wars: A New Hope (10 and 11 March 2018) for a live screening of the original film. Composer John Williams’ spectacular symphonic soundtrack was named the greatest film score of all time by the American Film Institute – and is arguably the most recognisable piece of orchestral music of the 20th century. Few orchestras around the world have had this opportunity. Few fans either. This once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the full power of this finely tuned, “fully operational” orchestra brought Star Wars to life as never before.