Opus Orchestra had full houses in Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua for its 21^st Anniversary Concerts. The programme included a new commission from Andrew Buchanan-Smart, who founded the Orchestra in 1991. The rest was Beethoven: the “Emperor” Concerto with Diedre Irons and the Fifth Symphony. Reviews have been enthusiastic:

Conductor Peter Walls captured the architectural essence of the piece but infused each movement with its own character, from fate knocking at the door of the first movement, the beautiful lyricism coupled with military heroism of the second, the sneaky playfulness of the scherzo and from the entry of the trombones in the fourth a wonderful sense of triumph ended the concert. Michael Williams, The Waikato Times 23 July 2012 

Opus has in Peter Walls an inspiring and perceptive conductor and there is an exceptional spirit among its players, so that their concerts are consistently alive and pleasing. . .  Opus brought out strongly the human drama of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, with Peter Walls adroitly handling the composer’s sharp swings between a stark defiance to approaching deafness and music of sheer beauty. Hanno Fairburn, The Daily Post (Rotorua) 23 July 2012.

As we’ve come to expect from this orchestra, all sections played and responded beautifully to Maestro Walls’ clever phrasing.  In the final movement, the orchestra erupted with truly magnificent fire and intensity. Chalium Poppy, Bay of Plenty Times, 23 July 2012

There has also been much positive feedback from audience members, such as the following:

Please pass on our congratulations to Peter Walls and his magnificent orchestra.  Today’s concert at Rotorua was inspiring.  We all came out with huge smiles and feeling very uplifted.  Please also thank Deidre Irons – she gave an amazing performance. 

“Could you also thank Peter for speaking to us – besides passing on some wee gems of info which all add to the general enjoyment, the interaction does help make connections. (And he is so good at it, too!)”

 Players, too, have said how much they enjoyed the rehearsals and concerts:

Thank you for your wonderful leadership in the concerts on the weekend. It was very inspiring to play this music . . . Your introduction of the Scherzo of the symphony in Rotorua really made me understand this movement better and, I think, helped me to play it.

Opus Orchestra celebrates its coming of age with concerts in Hamilton (20 July at 8 pm in the Gallagher Concert Chamebr), Tauranga (21 July, 7.30 pm) and Rotorua (22 July, 3 pm Civic Theatre). Diedre Irons is soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“The Emperor”). Peter will conduct Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and a new piece by Andrew Buchanan-Smart, who founded the orchestra in 1991.

From 1 July, HSC (the Health Sponsorship Council) and the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) become absorbed into the larger Health Promotion Agency (HPA), established through the Crown Entities Reform Act. Peter has been on the board of HSC since 2008 and has valued this opportunity to help promote healthy lifestyles in New Zealand. Together with his HSC colleagues, he wishes those at HPA every success in continuing and expanding this important activity.

Peter will be chairing seminars on Wagner’s Die Walkure in Auckland (4 July), Christchurch (6 July) and Wellington (9 July). He will be joined by Aidan Lang, the General Director of NBR New Zealand Opera and by several of the “Val-kiwis” – the New Zealanders performing as Valkyries in the upcoming performances of the opera by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with their Music Director, Pietari Inkinen. The cast includes Simon O’Neill, Edith Heller, Christine Goerke, John Wegner, Jonathan Lemalu and Margaret Medlyn. For details of these performances and the seminars, click here.

Peter will present a talk about Mozart’s Requiem at 6.30 pm on 6 June – immediately before the performance of this masterpiece in Wellington Cathedral by the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and the Vector Wellington Orchestra conducted by Karen Grylls.

Peter has just accepted a one-year appointment as a part-time Professorial Teaching Fellow at The New Zealand School of Music (a joint venture between Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University).