Follow the Music - APO Announces 2022 Season

Later in the year the Orchestra looks forward to welcoming back international artists of the highest echelon to join APO musicians on stage, here in Auckland.  Pianists Ingrid Fliter, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and 2021 Gramophone Artist of the Year violinist James Ehnes, are amongst the major performing artists who will return to appear with the APO in 2022.

The New Zealand debut of the much lauded 13-year-old Australian violin prodigy Christian Li in May will also be a particular highlight. Christian is the youngest ever winner of the Yehudi Menuhin Competition at the age of 10 and in 2020 became Decca Classics youngest ever signing. New Zealand audiences will be interested to know that Christian’s career successes to date have been expertly guided by his teacher, kiwi violinist and renowned pedagogue Robin Wilson.

Other artists of note who will make their NZ debuts with the APO in 2020, include Norwegian trumpet sensation Tine Thing Helseth, conductor Shiyeon Sung and cellist Anastasia Kobekina.

Repertoire highlights across the APO’s 2022 season are many and varied. 2021 saw sell-out performances across the APO’s Beethoven symphony cycle performances and 2022 will see the orchestra turn their attention to Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.

This 2022 Verdi celebration will showcase three awe-inspiring works, Verdi’s Requiem, II Trovatore, as the APO’s popular Opera in Concert event offering, and New Zealand Opera’s production of Macbeth. APO and New Zealand Opera have come together with a special three-event ticket package to ensure Auckland audiences can experience these exciting and inspiring works live.

Contemporary kiwi talent and artistry will once again be supported by the biggest band in town in 2022.

On the eve of our newest public holiday, the APO will welcome in te tau hou Māori with a special Matariki concert, Ka Pō Ka Ao, featuring acclaimed composer/musician, and New Zealand Arts Laureate, Rob Ruha. Having just released his highly anticipated third album Preservation of Scenery, not to mention his chart topping, tik tok hit ’35’ with Ka Hao, this will be an extraordinary night celebrating Ruha’s special brand of haka soul.

APO audiences should then prepare to be blown away by country-soul livewire Tami Neilson. Described by Rolling Stone Magazine as ’a fire breathing R&B belter’ Tami will join APO in July for a powerhouse performance not to be missed.

The popular film-in-concert format is also back with a presentation of the 1987 classic The Princess Bride. The littlies have not been forgotten either, with the enchanting orchestral presentation of the animated films Room on the Broom and Stick Man taking place in October.

The APO’s 2022 season takes the city’s orchestra into suburbs and venues across wider Auckland and will see the iconic Auckland Town Hall lit up with performances on an almost weekly basis.

This year the APO invites audiences to “follow the music” and after the journey we have all had through the challenges of COVID-19, this 2022 season may just be the precious gift our city deserves.