Clerici will conduct the orchestra in its first International Series concert for the year, "Clerici conducts Tchaikovsky", this Saturday night, from 7.30pm at the Dunedin Town Hall.
The concert programme will feature Mozart’s Overture from The Abduction from the Seraglio, followed by Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 5 "Egyptian", played by pianist Konstantin Shamray, and will conclude with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique".
Having a growing international career combining his skills as a cellist and conductor of orchestras and opera companies, as well as his role as chief conductor of Brisbane-based Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Clerici is in demand around the world.
However, his affection for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra has prompted him to find a spare week in his schedule — between conducting Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in Brisbane with physical theatre company Circa last week and performing next week with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra — to come to Dunedin to perform.
This year, he will be conducting in Vienna, Tokyo, Singapore and Florence, as well as working with orchestras in Australia and with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, before switching to focus on a block of cello performances.
"I still really enjoy coming to Dunedin to work with the DSO — they are a joy to work with," Clerici told The Star.
As a semi-professional orchestra, whose members also worked in a variety of fields or were students, the DSO players really loved the music, he said.
"They don’t play music every day, so it is really clear that they want to make the most of their chances — and that is a refreshing attitude."
DSO players also had a broader way of thinking than some fully professionally musicians, which was to their advantage.
"As we go through the rehearsal process, there is also very clear progress towards the performance and the orchestra is eager to learn, which is very satisfying.
"There is a real joy in bringing it all together."
The centrepiece of Saturday’s concert is Tchaikovsky’s "Pathetique" symphony — the last he composed and widely regarded as one of his greatest works.
"The Tchaikovsky concerto is such a monumental work, and will be a great way to end the concert, I think," Clerici said.
Having asked Konstantin Shamray for his preference and programming the Saint-Saens’ "Egyptian" concerto, Clerici was keen to schedule an opening piece with a Mediterranean theme.
The short and fast overture to Mozart’s opera, The Abduction from the Seraglio, set in Turkey and filled with rousing percussion, fit the bill perfectly.
"It will be a nice palate cleanser for the orchestra and the audiences, and will help to balance out the dark seriousness and intensity of the second half," he said.
• There will be a free pre-concert talk introducing the programme, presented by Prof Anthony Ritchie, 6.40pm-7pm on Saturday, at the Dunedin Town Hall complex.
