The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will bring the music of Igor Stravinsky to Tauranga next month.

They will perform the Russian composer's breakthrough masterpiece ‘The Firebird' at Baycourt Theatre, Saturday, April 10 at 7.30pm.

Led by top New Zealand conductor Hamish McKeich, Firebird in association with Ryman Healthcare will also be presented in Wellington, Napier, and Auckland.

The concert features renowned pianist Diedre Irons playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, widely considered one of his finest concertos.

Firebird opens with New Zealand-born Canadian composer Juliet Palmer's Buzzard. The spirited and mesmerising work is inspired by Stravinsky's The Firebird and Piotr Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

The Firebird was first devised as a ballet by impresario Sergei Diaghilev, artistic director of the famous Ballets Russes. Diaghilev wanted a ballet inspired by Russian folk tales and asked Stravinsky, then a respected but little-known young composer, to write music for the premiere in 1910.

The Firebird made Stravinsky a star and led to further great works for ballets, including Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

The Firebird also has a special place in NZSO history. In 1961 Stravinsky himself came to New Zealand to conduct the NZSO in Wellington and Auckland. The programme included The Firebird.

Firebird is part of the NZSO's new Immerse 2021 festival in April, May, and July. The national festival of 24 concerts will be presented in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Palmerston North, and Christchurch.

Tickets to the show in Tauranga are available from ticketek.co.nz