Flute player Emily Beynon Photo: Eduardus Lee
Emily Beynon has come halfway around the globe for the world premiere of the latest flute concerto written for her.
The Welsh-born, Amsterdam-based flute player is here to play Guillaume Connesson's new work, Danses Concertantes in two concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Speaking to RNZ, Beynon says the new work is full of joy, but also dramatic mood swings.
There's a sultry tango, and at one point the music gets so violent it might be a pas de deux for zombies.
Beynon, who when not playing solo is principal flute with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Netherlands, is also giving masterclasses during her stay in Aotearoa.
She tells RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump she loves the flexible approach of the New Zealand students and their willingness to try something different.
"I think music happens when you take a risk. It's got to smell at least a little bit dangerous... I think really, that sense of danger is what brings music to life."
