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1884 days ago

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra launches festival series

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has announced a new festival series planned for 2021.

The series will be staged in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington and Christchurch, with many performances in each city over three days.

Popular Setting Up Camp tours will also be expanded next year.

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra chief executive Peter Biggs said the orchestra's goal is to bring the greatest music ever written to as many New Zealanders as possible.

“Our multi-day Festivals in six cities and expansion of our Setting Up Camp tour from six to 15 centres next year will give audiences more choices and allow the NZSO to make deeper connections with more New Zealanders," he said.

A highlight will be Kia Kotahi, a unique performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with a new text of the famous Ode to Joy sung in Te Reo by a chorus of high school students.

The concert will also comprise new works by New Zealand artists.

American Marin Alsop, one of the world’s top conductors, will make her New Zealand debut with Kia Kotahi.

The project was originally slated for 2020, Beethoven’s 250th anniversary year.

But the impact of Covid-19 and limited government funding has meant the NZSO will not deliver to New Zealanders everything the orchestra planned to do, Biggs said.

The NZSO is cutting the number of large scale concerts next year, he said.

"We know this will sadden our many fans and supporters around the country.

"The NZSO is working hard to find a solution so we can reach those audiences."

Season subscription tickets went on sale on Friday at nzso.co.nz.

More messages from your neighbours
5 days ago

Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???

Markus from Green Bay

“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.

On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.

[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.

Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.

Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”

Full article: www.theguardian.com...


If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.

22 days ago

Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.

Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.

We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?

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As a customer, what do you think about automation?
  • 9.2% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
    9.2% Complete
  • 43.7% I want to be able to choose.
    43.7% Complete
  • 47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
    47.1% Complete
2465 votes
J
1 day ago

Rock'in with Elvis by Mike Cole

Jackie from Titirangi

The Memories of Elvis Fan Club invite you to our 1st Elvis Social for 2026. We are excited to have our own Mike Cole back at the Te Atatu RSA on Saturday 28th February at 7.30pm. Cost only $20pp. Tickets are on sale at the RSA or reserve through Jackie 0274901126. So lets see you with your dancing shoes on and that great smile as we start off 2026 with a bang.