Superstar tenor Simon O'Neill joins NZSO for at-home livestream on Wednesday

Kiwi tenor Simon O'Neill (left) and NZSO Principal Conductor in Residence Hamish McKeich. Photos / Supplied

Internationally renowned Kiwi tenor Simon O'Neill will perform with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for its next at-home livestream performance at 7.30pm on Wednesday April 22.

O'Neill, hailed as one of the finest tenors of his generation, will perform from his home an excerpt from George Frideric Handel's captivating opera Atlanta.

O'Neill will be joined by home-based NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen, First Violin Ursula Evans, Section Principal Viola Julia Joyce, Section Principal Cello Andrew Joyce and Associate Principal Double Bass Damien Eckersley.

NZSO Principal Conductor in Residence Hamish McKeich has curated all the performances for Play Our Part 5 and arranged Care Selve, ombre beate from Atalanta for O'Neill to perform.

Play Our Part 5 will also feature four other works, including Samuel Scheidt's Canzon Cornetto performed by NZSO Sub-Principal Trumpeter Mark Carter and the first movement of Haydn's String Trio performed by Leppänen, Associate Principal Cellist Ken Ichinose and Violist Nicholas Hancox.

Play Our Part is a free weekly online series of performances by NZSO musicians and guests in their homes during the Covid-19 lockdown. It includes support from the Orchestra's performing partner RNZ Concert.

The livestream can be viewed at live.nzso.co.nz via smart TV, mobile phone, tablet or computer.

Thousands of people have viewed the Play Our Part series and other online performances by the Orchestra since the Covid-19 restrictions.

The NZSO, in association with Ryman Healthcare, is also presenting a series of livestream concerts on Sunday at 4pm.

The first on April 19 featured works by Beethoven in celebration of the composer's 250th birthday in 2020.