Fifty Fifty

in-Residence for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. The residency culminated in 2008
with the premiere of Ex Stasis, a symphonic song cycle for four soloists. In 2008, Farr also
celebrated the world premiere of his work Terra Incognita, for bass solo, choir and orchestra,
performed by Paul Whelan and the Orpheus Choir with the New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra. Farr’s artistic excellence was acknowledged when he received the Arts Foundation
of New Zealand’s Arts Laureate Award 2010, which aims to celebrate significant artistic
achievement as well as nurture future creative endeavours.
In March of 2014 Farr’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra received its world premiere from
soloist Tony Lee and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pietari Inkenen.
Its UK premiere followed one year later, with Lee backed by the BBC Philharmonic, with
conductor Tecwyn Evans. The BBC Philharmonic included Farr’s work alongside Douglas
Lilburn’s Symphony No.2 as a programme to mark the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC
troops’ battle at Gallipoli during World War I. The concerto received critical acclaim,
described by the Dominion Post’s John Button as containing “marvellously free piano
writing surrounded by orchestral sounds that conjure up memories of Prokofiev ballets,
Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortileges and even the Bartok First Piano Concerto…the ear was tickled
bar after bar. I have no doubt that this marvellously inventive piano concerto is bound to
develop an international life all its own.”
Farr’s music is particularly influenced by his extensive study of percussion, both Western
and non-Western. Rhythmic elements of his compositions can be linked to the complex and
exciting rhythms of Rarotongan log drum ensembles, Balinese gamelan and other percussion
music of the Pacific Rim.
Latest information about the composer may be found at www.garethfarr.com.
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