University of Auckland, NZ Boasts A Grand Slam With Professor Robert Aitken, Distinguished Guest Flutist, Master Teacher and Composer in Two Week Tour

    AUKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, November 06, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In a two week tour to Auckland, New Zealand, Robert Aitken showcased Henry Brant's Bass Flute Solo with Flute Orchestra (Ghosts and Gargoyles), shared insight and critique in multiple masterclasses, and performed a celebrity recital with music from Bach to Aitken. He also presented a "Music As A Language" lecture on the Fermata (Time Out to Talk Music) series.

"The University of Auckland was very pleased to have Robert Aitken as guest artist in residence this September", stated Allan Badley, Head of the School of Music . "He is one of the most diversified and respect musicians of our time. Our students loved his teaching and the audiences have been raving ever since about it."

The Celebrity Recital entertained the audience with Baroque works such as Partita in A minor (J.S. Bach) and Sonata in F minor (Telemann), the contemporary pieces of Sequenza for Flute (Berio), Chant de Linos (Jolivet), and Flute Sonata in D Major (Prokofiev. He also performed one of his own compositions, Plainsong (Aitken) and added a 4th movement to the Bach.

The Master Classes were open to all flutists in the area, revealing a high interest with often fifty observers to the four sessions involving 22 advanced flutists. These musicians, performing individually in front of a room filled with their colleagues, received instruction and insight from Aitken on a wide variety of solo repertoire. The list was impressive with Bach, Vivaldi, Sancan, Doppler, Franck, Quantz, Reinecke, Saint-Saëns, Prokofiev, Moyse, Berio, Villa-Lobos, Telemann, Penderecki, Piazzolla, and Aitken.

The Ghosts and Gargoles Concert featured the New Zealand premiere of an evocative work by Henry Brant for bass flute solo, performed by Robert Aitken and massed flutes. Aitken then partnered with fellow flutist, Professor Uwe Grodd, and the Magic Flutes NZ (directed by Melody Lin) in Cimarosa's sparkling concerto for two flutes and flute orchestra.

The Music Lecture, as part of the Fermata: Time Out to Talk Music series, spotlighted a guest appearance of Robert Aitken as speaker. His topic: Music as a Language. "The process of interpretation and arriving at a convincing musical performance is complex", says Aitken. "One important aspect is the particular "language' a composer uses. During the 20th century and today the need to know the composer personally is becoming increasingly important."

The National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries invited Aitken to participate as visiting artist in the School of Music's Concerts and Events fall series as part of the University of Auckland's Distinguished Visitors Award offerings.

To hear (and see) Robert Aitken performing,
visit http://www.RobertAitkenFlutist.com/AitkenPerforming

About Robert Aitken:
Before embarking on a five-decade global solo career, Robert Aitken, at age 19, was the youngest principal flutist in a major symphony orchestra (Vancouver). He played four years with the CBC Radio Orchestra; five in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Aitken's held long-term teaching positions with University of Toronto, Banff School of Fine Arts, and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. His students hold prestigious flute positions throughout the world. With over 70 recordings, his Labels include BIS, Naxos, CBC, Centrediscs, Marquis Classics, New World Records, Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre, As composer, his publishers are Editions Musicales Transatlantiques, UE, PeerMusic, Salabert, Ricordi, Kerby/BH, and CMC.

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