Auckland Philharmonia | NZ Herald Premier Series: Organ Symphony

Conductor Nodoka Okisawa
Organ Nicholas Forbes

Guillaume Connesson Cosmic Trilogy
Saint-Saëns Symphony No.3 ‘Organ Symphony’

The dazzling French composer Guillaume Connesson captures the universe in his Stephen Hawking-inspired work. In its NZ premiere, the three movements evoke the Big Bang, the appearance of the stars, and a supernova.

On the title page of his Third Symphony, Saint-Saëns wrote the words ‘with organ’: its first appearance is a mood of quiet contemplation, but there’s a big bang here, too, when the Auckland Town Hall’s mighty instrument is unleashed – an occasion not to be missed.

Presented by Auckland Philharmonia as part of the 2026 NZ Herald Premier Series - a series of 12 bold and stimulating concerts guaranteed to amaze, excite and entertain - learn more at aucklandphil.nz

Est. running time two hour with a twenty minute interval