The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has one concert in Invercargill this year, “Baroque Series - Bach Extended’’, at the Civic Theatre on November 3.

NZSO publicist Tom Cardy said the orchestra “could not wait" to get back south this year.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant several of the orchestra’s planned live concerts around the country had to be cancelled. 

NZSO begins touring again in August and intends to play from Kerikeri to Invercargill in a series of tours scheduled for the rest of the year.

Mr Cardy said all of the NZSO’s Wellington concerts would be live streamed and every concert would be viewed for free on the orchestra’s website.

“This does mean Southlanders can see more of the NZSO than they have in the past," he said.

NZSO Concertmaster and violinist Vesa-Matti Leppanen will perform at the concert.

The Bach Extended concert programme will feature soloists Donald Nicolson (harpsichord), Deidre Irons (piano), Andrew Joyce (cello) and Vesa-Matti Leppänen (director and violin), playing music composed by German musicians Johann Sebastian Bach and his sons Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

JS Bach is the undisputed master of baroque music and the programme will present four of his most loved works, alongside two pieces by his sons.

Both Wilhelm and Carl were heavily influenced by their father but also pushed the boundaries of what baroque music could achieve.

WF Bach’s inventive Duet for Two Flutes features the unmistakable sweet sound of baroque flutes before CPE Bach’s adventurous and beguiling Concerto for Harpsichord and Fortepiano. 

When the piece was composed in the late 18th century, the fortepiano – the first piano – was a new instrument. 

CPE Bach’s concerto was the first piece written for both instruments to be played together and in Invercargill it will be performed by pianist Deidre Irons, harpischordist Donald Nicolson and the orchestra.

Hear the concert: Live at the Invercargill Civic Theatre, November 3, 7.30pm. Tickets and more information link here.

Live streaming and online here.