PAST CONCERTS

REVIEW OF SEPTEMBER 2022 CONCERT

Helene Pohl in Outstanding Form

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Michael Joel, the SMCO’s musical director, always a favourite with both orchestra and audiences, was conductor of September’s hugely popular programme. Rachel Moxham led the orchestra with style and verve, and Helene Pohl gave a stellar performance as the soloist in the Beethoven Violin Concerto

REVIEW OF AUGUST 2022 CONCERT

Brilliant Sylvia Jiang in the Grieg Piano Concerto

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The concerto was a tour de force for Jiang and the orchestra and Jiang fully deserved the standing ovation.  What a privilege to have Jiang back in New Zealand during a summer break from her studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York

REVIEW OF JULY 2022 CONCERT

Bravo Diedre Irons, David Kay and Beethoven

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​SMCO’s Emperor concert might very well not have happened. Instead, it became a performance to long remember.  It presented an interesting collection of pieces, it had a stellar soloist in Diedre Irons, and a brilliant conductor in David Kay who stood in at late notice for Michael Joel.   

REVIEW OF JUNE 2022 CONCERT

Magical Flute Playing

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Here was a concert well worth the wait having been rescheduled from March to June.  It produced two new names for the orchestra’s list of noteworthy conductors and soloists. Joshua Kirk is an emerging New Zealand conductor, with advanced training in Australia and experience with several of the major orchestras in New Zealand and Australia. The second new face appearing with the orchestra was Melanie Lançon, Principal flute with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, who played both before and after interval.