What an Orchestra!!! It is very
rare to find one orchestra which has all the elements to make
it successful. The Air New Zealand Accordion
Orchestra combines all these elements: they are highly professional,
their music programme is very appealing to every audience, age
and nationality! Proof to this is the fact that the New Zealand
Government has on three occasions honoured these fine accordionists
by appointing them "New Zealand Cultural Ambassadors".
Formed in 1976, the Air New Zealand Accordion
Orchestra has toured overseas extensively. Highlights include
8 International Goodwill Concert Tours to Europe, Asia, Australia,
North America, performing for British Royalty, at the Closing
Ceremony of the 1990 Commonwealth Games (before 35,000 people),
TV appearances in North America, China, Hong Kong and Europe.
It is fascinating how well all the instruments
this orchestra uses blend in together: accordion with drums,
organ, synthesiser, glockenspiel. No doubt it took a lot of
experience and knowledge to achieve such a balance, and to make
all these instruments sound like one, always within the frame
of good musical taste.
I have to mention vocalists Erica Knights,
Lionel Reekie, Carolyn Reekie and Wendy
Robinson. Their singing gives specific aroma to this recording
and helps make it so entertaining.