Debut performance of NZ Symphony Orchestra

Until the 1940 Centennial celebrations, symphonic music in New Zealand was provided by various orchestras in the cities and larger towns.

The success of the Centennial Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Andersen Tyrer, encouraged the government to form a permanent national orchestra administered by the National Broadcasting Service. However the Second World War delayed its creation.

In 1946 leading musicians were brought together for the first rehearsals of the newly constituted National Orchestra. Andersen Tyrer was appointed conductor and Vincent Aspey orchestra leader.

The debut concert in Wellington’s Town Hall opened with the obligatory rendition of ‘God Save the King’. Then the orchestra performed works by Dvorak, Brahms, Butterworth, Enesco, Wagner and Richard Strauss.