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Christchurch Symphony Orchestra presents “Variations”
March 25, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra presents “Variations” on Saturday 25th March 2023, 7.30 p.m in Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, Christchurch Town Hall, Kilmore Street, Christchurch
In Dances of Galánta, Kodály artfully weaves together Hungarian folk songs from his childhood town of Galánta. The Dances put Kodály’s mastery of orchestration on display, with a rich palette of instrumental colours creating a work that exemplifies how music can both transport and connect us to cultures far from our own.
Celebrated Ōtautahi Christchurch-based pianist Michael Endres joins the CSO to perform Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a set of firework-filled variations that pay homage to the last of violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini’s 24 caprices for solo violin.
British composer Edward Elgar’s famous Enigma Variations took shape out of a simple melody that Elgar skilfully crafted into a series of 14 variations representing musical caricatures of friends, his wife, and even himself; complete with coded titles. The cipher-loving Elgar always maintained that he also hid a musical mystery in the main theme. Audiences will immediately recognise the spine-tingling Nimrod variation, which has undoubtedly achieved universal tear-jerker status.
Benjamin Northey – Chief Conductor
Michael Endres – Piano
Kodály – Dances of Galánta
Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Elgar – Enigma Variation