Stravinsky, Lilburn, Menhuin: Pictorial treasures from the NZSO archive go online

Stars of classical music from around the world - and their connection with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - are now on show in a new exhibition that tells the storied history of the cultural institution.

Archives New Zealand, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra launched the online exhibition of images and recordings of the orchestra on Monday 24 March.

Pictures, footage and audio of well-known musicians and conductors that the orchestra has performed with over many years are featured, including Igor Stravinsky, Douglas Lilburn, Jaqueline du Pre and Yehudi Menhuin.

The NZSO 2025 season begins 27 March with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The Wellington concert will be livestreamed from the Michael Fowler Centre and includes an exhibition in the foyer of NZSO images and a pre-concert talk by Archives New Zealand senior archivist Katherine C’Ailceta.

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The collection captures the orchestra’s formation just after World War II and its progression in the decades since.

Katherine C’Ailceta from Archives NZ helped track down hours of film footage from the National Film Unit for the exhibition.

RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump spoke with C’Ailceta and the NZSO's Graeme Browne.

The orchestra appeared, played and provided original soundtracks for many NFU productions including the Weekly Review, and its successor Pictorial Parade, and other short films for theatre release.

The NZSO 2025 season begins 27 March with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The Wellington concert will be livestreamed from the Michael Fowler Centre and includes an exhibition in the foyer of NZSO images and a pre-concert talk by Archives New Zealand senior archivist Katherine C’Ailceta.