A tale of two Stabat Maters in Auckland

Valentina Peleggi, Filipe Manu and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Anna Pierard, Valentina Peleggi, Filipe Manu and Jeremy Kleeman with the NZSO

By Simon Holden, 06 October 2025

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“Voices New Zealand proved their technical mettle and stylistic adaptability”

Reviewed at Auckland Town Hall: Great Hall, Auckland on 3 October 2025

Rossini, Stabat Mater

Kelly, Stabat Mater (World premiere)

Madison Nonoa, Soprano

Anna Pierard, Mezzo-soprano

Filipe Manu, Tenor

Jeremy Kleeman, Baritone

Voices New Zealand

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Valentina Peleggi, Conductor

Joyce DiDonato’s Berlioz takes flight in Auckland

Simon Holden, 29th November

The unexpected grounding of Airbus A320s across the globe has musical consequences in Auckland, but Joyce DiDonato’s Berlioz saves the day.

****1

Gemma New conducts a superb Mahler 6 in Auckland

Simon Holden, 6th September

A key feature of New’s Mahler is the ability to keep everything cohesive across the long span of the works as witnessed in this account of the Sixth Symphony.

*****

Masaaki Suzuki and the NZSO take on classical music’s legends

Simon Holden, 10th May

In invigorating performances of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven in Auckland, Suzuki's interpretative approach evokes the sensibilities of historically informed performance.

*****

Astonishing Rachmaninov from Daniil Trifonov

Simon Holden, 12th April

Daniil Trifonov takes New Zealand by storm with a performance of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto of technical command and musical artistry.

*****

The orchestra shine in NZSO's Puccini Arias programme

Simon Holden, 26th October

The NZSO are on sparkling form in Puccini arias and other operatic orchestral passages; Eliza Boom shows her potential as a Puccini singer of the future.

***11

Gemma New and the NZSO travel through twentieth century music

Simon Holden, 27th October

Centred around Scriabin’s mystical Poem of Ecstasy, a thrilling journey through the byways of twentieth century music takes in New Zealand, Finland and France.

****1

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Simon Holden

Simon is an operaphile based in Auckland, New Zealand. He wrote his dissertation on Japanese popular music. With a background in piano and classical music retail, he spends his time attending as much opera or vocal concert as he can and blogs at irishenceaway.blogspot.com.