Drama, innovation and variety are the key to the must-see Central Otago Regional Orchestra (CORO)’s Autumn series 2026, 'Gravitas!'.

 Under the baton of CORO’s new conductor, Rakuto Kurano, the entire orchestra will play two dramatic works by Soon Hee Newbold, Gravitas and Warrior Legacy.  A modern composer, Soon Hee Newbold hales from America and her works characteristically create imagery and strength, which is hardly surprising considering the screenplay works she has composed.

 Painting a different kind of imagery, Romance for Viola and Orchestra  in F Major, Op.85 by Max Bruch will feature Rakuto as soloist. Written in the Romantic style, our audiences will feel warmed by the melodic lines and drawn in to the intimate conversation between the viola and a smaller sized orchestra.

 Further demonstrating his versatility, Rakuto will play the solo role for Joseph Haydn’s Piano Concerto No. 11 in D accompanied by the strengthening string section of the orchestra. This piece was Haydn’s last piano concerto published in 1784. There is a suggestion that Mozart, with whom Haydn had formed a friendship around the time of the composition of the piece, may have had some influence on the flavour of this piece.

 A Queenstown-based award-winning musician, Kurano is a conductor, composer, and
multi-instrumentalist. He brings extensive experience to the role, with performances
across New Zealand and internationally on violin, viola, and piano.  Through his association with the Magic Carpet Trust, he has been able to strengthen our concert ranks with some talented young players from across the country and we appreciate the support of the Trust with this.

Rakuto succeeds Ashley Hopkins, who stepped down after nine years as Music Director,
having made a significant contribution to the orchestra’s artistic growth and
development.

The varietal content of our programme takes us from O Virtus Sapiente by Hildegard von Bingen (an innovator of the 1100’s), to Fiddle Faddle by Leroy Anderson through to Suite for Strings by John Rutter. Rutter has certainly been the flavour of the year due to his 80th birthday being celebrated in September, 2025 and it will bring pleasure to our audience’s ears to hear old folk songs revisited in true Rutter style.

 To reach this special concert series on May 2nd (Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, 7.30pm) and May 3rd (Alexandra Memorial Theatre, 2.30pm) tickets may be purchased at:

 https://humanitix.com/nz

Unichem Pharmacy Alexandra

Arrowtown Museum