Unhidden depths

Tabea Squire's new work for the NZSO examines the play between stillness and movement.

- WILLIAM GREEN

A "Light Ship" - a lighthouse out at sea, on a ship that is designed to move but in this case is anchored and still. The Tide - vast and seemingly still at times, but in fact ever-moving. These two contrasts provide the inspiration for Wellington composer Tabea Squire's Conversation of the Lightship and the Tide, which is premiered by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra this month.

Squire's new piece will be conducted by Gemma New, currently artistic adviser and principal conductor of the NZSO, who has known Squire since they were students. New is no stranger to Squire's work and neither is the NZSO, having performed Squire's Variations under New’s direction in 2022.