New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; directed by Edo de Waart; piano soloist Ronald Brautigam; music by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Beethoven; Napier Municipal Theatre, Tuesday, November 1; reviewed by Peter Williams
This Masterworks Programme certainly proved to be popular, attracting a large audience that was enthralled from start to finish, making a splendid ending to the NZSO 2016 Subscription Series.
Edo de Waart drew the very best from all the players with performances that matched the magnificent quality of the music of all three composers represented on the programme.
Felix Mendelssohn was an exceedingly gifted composer, no better demonstrated than in his wonderful Midsummer Night's Dream overture, composed when he was just 17, which opened the concert.
This was superbly played, the ethereal opening notes immediately creating a vivid sound picture of the characters in the play, transporting the audience into Shakespeare's dream world.