March 8, 2021 8:00PM • Auckland Town Hall

CANCELLED: Auckland Arts Festival | Shoulder to Shoulder

Concert

Auckland Arts Festival/Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki (AAF) is sadly unable to open this Thursday 4 March as planned, due to Auckland being at Alert Level 3. While we are working hard to reschedule much of the activity from the first part of our programme, we have been forced to cancel a small number of shows and events, including Shoulder to Shoulder.

Presented by Auckland Arts Festival & Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

Performed works:

Celebrate International Women’s Day with music and words from inspirational women, including a world premiere commission for taonga puoro and orchestra by Ruby Solly, work by Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Wolfe, and more.

This vibrant programme highlights women composers ranging from the mystic brilliance of 12th century pioneer Hildegard von Bingen, to multi-faceted musician, writer, and taonga puoro practitioners Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) and Arts Foundation Laureate Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu).

Historically, music by women has been considered ‘lost’ or ‘forgotten’ – or to tell it like it is, actively marginalised and systemically oppressed.

Shoulder to Shoulder champions work by established Aotearoa composers Dorothy Ker and Rachael Morgan; the only female member of France’s Les Six, Germaine Tailleferre; and international living composers from India, Iran, and the United States – Reena Esmail, Aida Shirazi, and Julia Wolfe in her score for orchestra and electric guitar.

Interspersed with these works, the powerful voices of women are also expressed through poetry, text and spoken word.