Amalia Hall and Eivind Aadland shine in Auckland Philharmonia ‘Bolero’ night - William Dart

Violinist Amalia Hall performs Michael Norris' concerto 'Sama' with the Auckland Philharmonia. Photo / Auckland Philharmonia

Ravel was no doubt responsible for the packed town hall at Auckland Philharmonia’s Bolero concert tonight, but how good it was to see a substantial, cutting-edge New Zealand work being heard and enjoyed by so many.

Michael Norris’ Violin Concerto Sama is a dazzling spin of colours, in which the influence of Turkish Sufi ceremonies brings about a beguiling mix of the pungent and the ethereal, with no shortage of dervish-like whirlings.

Amalia Hall’s opening theme, bursting out in luscious late romantic curves, was dramatically and significantly projected for us all to remember before, as soloist, she effortlessly takes up the composer’s virtuosic challenges.

This electrifying 20-minute score was also an appreciated showcase for conductor Eivind Aadland and his players. The Norwegian maestro bewitched us in 2023, with a Swedish contemporary work that suspended shimmering textures over a well-wrought frame.

Conductor Eivind Aadland leads the Auckland Philharmonia in a programme of French works. Photo / Trine Hisdal

With Norris’ almost terrifying crescendos, rivulets of cascading woodwind and percussion outbursts, as much Pacific Ocean as Black Sea, he did full justice to a similarly fine composition.

There were more thrills to come at encore time, with Hall delivering Kenji Bunch’s Next Train, in the manner of a breathtaking bluegrass breakdown.

Orchestrally, the rest of the evening had been French, right through to a blistering Ravel Bolero, in which musicians seemed to be making an extra special effort to bring individual colour and nuance to their solos.

Imaginative programming had opened the evening with Debussy’s Printemps, an early work, reconstructed by his friend Henri Busser.

Although conservative alongside the composer’s later pieces — even L’Apres-midi d’un faune was seven years away — its unfailing stylishness and elegance was beautifully rendered, with the luxury of not one but two pianists sharing the Steinway.

The meticulous Aadland illuminated the 18th century dalliances of Faure’s Masques et Bergamasques with just the right crispness, burdened only by a dull minuet movement.

However, a subtle and shapely Pastorale led to a palpable crowd-pleaser in the same composer’s Sicilienne, featuring that exemplary flautist Melanie Lancon.

This Thursday, the town hall hosts one of Auckland Philharmonia’s innovative 6.30 concerts, with French conductor Pierre Bleuse, inviting us to luxuriate in the full romantic splendour of Tchaikovsky and Wagner . . . and still make that 8 o’clock dinner date.