NZSO’s take on revolutionary composer

Second violinist Simeon Broom and associate principal second violinist Amy Brookman rehearse in Wellington for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s Baroque Innovations tour which comes to Gisborne on June 20. Picture by Phoebe Tuxford/NZSO

A grandiose, dramatic and energetic display of baroque music is on offer when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra returns to Tairawhiti on Tuesday.

The Gisborne performance is part of the NZSO’s Baroque Innovations tour directed by orchestra concertmaster and first violinist Vesa-Matti Leppänen, and including accomplished violinist Amy Brookman.

Brookman, NZSO’s associate principal second violinist, said she was excited to be playing at the War Memorial Theatre.

“We are delighted to present a selection of our personal favourite sonatas from Heinrich Biber’s Harmonia artificioso-ariosa, bringing to our audiences the sublime and rarely heard sonic textures from one of the most revolutionary composers of the Baroque period.

“Biber separated himself from the Baroque music stereotype with wild improvisatory virtuosity that was very much ahead of his time.

“To challenge traditions even more and bring something new to the table, we’ll be presenting a new chamber arrangement for strings, keyboard and percussion that features various members from the NZSO.”

Prior to joining the NZSO in 2019, Brookman worked extensively with the Melbourne, Queensland, and Tasmania symphony orchestras, as well as the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO).

As a soloist, she has performed at the Canberra International Music Festival and with the ACO Collective.

Tuesday’s Baroque Innovations concert starts at 7.30pm. To book tickets go to tinyurl.com/bdf6dnss