Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra - "Landscapes"

Superb New York-based pianist Alessio Bax joins the orchestra for a favourite concerto.

Alessio Bax Photo: www.marcoborggreve.com

Edvard Grieg only made one attempt at a Piano Concerto, but he hit it out of the park, so to speak.

"In many ways it's a perfect concerto," says our soloist for this performance, Alessio Bax, "it's somewhat compact; a huge range of emotions; there's a great cadenza; beautiful tunes; beautiful contrasting moments; great writing for the piano and for the orchestra. And then at the same time, it's really uniquely Grieg – it has this Nordic feel throughout."

The Nordic theme continues in the second half with Sibelius's overwhelming Fifth Symphony.

The concert opens with a slice of New Zealand and a gorgeous work for string orchestra by John Ritchie.