Producer's Notes

There are four fully professional orchestras in New Zealand - the NZO and the three regional orchestras, the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras, which means that the residents of our three main centres - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, are very fortunate. They enjoy frequent concerts from our "national" orchestra - the NZSO - and even more frequent concerts from their own regional orchestras.

When setting up Cavalcade we were determined to include in the programme of acts we would invite to perform in our new theatre, one of the regional orchestras, to provide Marlborough theatregoers with a little of the orchestral variety enjoyed by city dwellers. So we entered into discussions with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra to discuss the possibility of the CSO performing in Blenheim's new theatre. At present they play in Christchurch venues and in Timaru, so they were enthusiastic about the prospect of including  another regional centre on their circuit. The CSO is already mentoring the newly formed Marlborough Orchestra, sending tutors to Blenheim to work with the players in the local orchestra, so a closer association  - CSO and Blenheim - made a lot of sense.

Already forging relationships in the region the CSO have recently developed a mentoring programme with the newly formed Marlborough Orchestra, many of whom will join the orchestra during their concert in October.

From the CSO website, a little of the history of the CSO

In 1958, under the vision and direction of Professor John Ritchie, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra was formed. Over the past fifty years, the orchestra has grown to establish itself as a cultural asset to Christchurch and the wider communities of the South Island of New Zealand.

The orchestra actively contributes to the cultural diversity of the Christchurch community through a full and varied concert season, as the orchestra of choice for many touring artists and other arts organisations, through our extensive Community Engagement programme, and at civic events. Championing New Zealand composers and artists is important to the CSO and it has for many years, showcased and premiered New Zealand works and performed with the best of New Zealand talent.

CSO players form the backbone of music teaching within the Canterbury community and beyond, and play an integral part in the development of the next generation of musicians. CSO players share their knowledge at all levels of teaching including primary, intermediate, secondary and tertiary levels as well as co-ordinating and leading a variety of community based music groups involving people of all ages and abilities.

The CSO is adventurous and innovative in its programming. From Baroque to Bebop, Mendelssohn to Moa their concert seasons have featured collaborations with artists such as jazz legend James Morrison, Kiwi rock icons The Topp Twins,Anika Moa, Julia Deans and The Adults as well as commissioning many new symphonic works.

The CSO is the orchestra of choice for many national and international artists and arts organisations such as the Royal New Zealand Ballet, NZ Opera, NZ International Jazz festival and New Zealand Film Festival.

We hope that the CSO's participation in the Cavalcade season will lead to a long and fruitful relationship between the CSO and Marlborough, and especially with Marlborough's developing orchestral community - both performers and audiences.  If you would like to know more about the CSO, check the website . There you will find the current programme - events, venues and dates. You can book on-line for any of their shows, and you can register to receive the (extremely interesting) monthly newsletter. I now receive a great many newsletters from performing arts organisations, and I rate the CSO's as one of the best and the most interesting. 

Robin Sutherland