Peter Walls Photo: Opus Orchestra
What do author Margaret Mahy and composers Gareth Farr, Martin Lodge, Ross Harris and Philip Norman have in common?
Their work is being featured in two short concerts from Opus Orchestra in the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival on Sunday 28 February, and repeated the following weekend in Rotorua and Tauranga.
Mahy Magic is a concert for children of all ages (including adults!) featuring NZ composer Philip Norman’s settings of Margaret Mahy’s 'Flingamingo Tango', 'The Lion in the Meadow' and other poems. Opus Orchestra will be joined by two wonderfully communicative singers: Georgia Jamieson Emms and Robert Tucker.
Made for Opus: Composer Encounters features the music of Ross Harris, Martin Lodge and Gareth Farr - and there's an extra bonus: audiences will get to hear the composers talk about their music and be able to ask them questions as well.
Peter Walls, Opus Orchestra’s Music Director, talked with Upbeat about the concerts: how the concept came about, and the approach he takes as a conductor to bring to life the intentions of the various composers.
Check the Opus Orchestra Facebook page for the latest concert information
