It's not often you get to hear an accordion soloist with an orchestra, says BOP Symphonia secretary Pauline Logger.
'However, May 6 – the day of Bay of Plenty Symphonia's first 2023 concert ‘Concertina!' in Rotorua – is World Accordion Day!”
For both the May 6 Rotorua concert of ‘Concertina!', and Tauranga's concert on May 7 – attendees can hear one of the world's best accordionists, New Zealand's own Grayson Masefield.
Beginning with his grandfather, Grayson's family has been in NZ's accordion import business for three generations. 'I always had the choice from my mother: I could learn any instrument as long as I learned the accordion as well,” says Grayson.
He reckons people are often surprised by what the accordion can do. 'The first thing most people say, if they come up to me after a concert, is: ‘I didn't know you could do that!'” says Grayson.
Pauline says ‘Concertina!' features music showcasing the virtuosity of the accordion with lots of tango references and a world premiere performance of ‘Introduction and Allegro' by leading Kiwi composer Ross Harris.
'The orchestra will also perform Fauré's ever popular ‘Pavane', light classical music by Honegger and Rossini, and Weill's ‘Threepenny Music' – transporting audiences to 1920s Berlin with its jazzy, tongue-in-cheek tunes.”
‘Concertina!' is on Saturday, May 6, at 3.30pm at St John's Church, Rotorua; and Sunday, May 7, at 3pm at Holy Trinity Church, Tauranga.
Adult tickets cost $20 plus booking fee; under-18s gain free entry. Book tickets at: www.eventfinda.co.nz phone 0800 BUY TIX (289 849), or visit Tauranga isite. Door sales are available.