The Auckland Philharmonia announces changes for its upcoming concert, The New Zealand Herald Premier Series: Bach & Bruckner, on Thursday 2 May 2024.
Acclaimed German conductor Karl-Heinz Steffens will step in as the replacement conductor for this concert with a music programme that includes two works by J. S. Bach and Bruckner’s glorious Ninth Symphony. This performance will mark his Southern Hemisphere debut. Steffens is particularly familiar with Bruckner’s works and is scheduled to perform the same symphony with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra next month.
Karl-Heinz Steffens is currently Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, in eastern Sweden. He originally led a high-level career as a clarinettist before turning his focus to conducting. He was Principal Clarinet of both the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic and has subsequently guest conducted both ensembles.
French pianist, and Bach specialist, David Fray is the highly anticipated soloist for this concert as he returns to Auckland Town Hall and the Auckland Philharmonia to perform Keyboard Concerto No.4 and No.5 by J.S. Bach.
Karl-Heinz Steffens will replace the previously advertised, Johannes Fritzsch who has been forced to withdraw from this concert because of an injury he recently sustained in Europe. We wish Johannes a speedy recovery and look forward to working with him again soon. The music programme and concert title are unchanged.