While the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra travels by bus to venues this week, two musicians will take to the open road on motorcycles for their performances.

The NZSO’s principal trumpeter, Michael Kirgan, and principal timpanist, Laurence Reese, will ride from Wellington to Palmerston North on March 11 for the first of five remaining concerts in the orchestra’s Timeless Beauty: Handel & Telemann tour.

The pair will then continue their journey by motorcycle to Napier, Rotorua, Hamilton, and Tauranga to perform in the Baroque-themed concerts, which feature Telemann’s trailblazing Concerto for 3 Trumpets and Timpani.

The musicians estimate their round trip will exceed 1330km. Each day is carefully planned to ensure they arrive in good time for their performances, but in true Born to be Wild spirit, they intend to embrace the adventure along the way.

“We aren’t just going to get up each day and ride straight to the next place,” Kirgan said. “We might go off the beaten track and ride around some back roads and have a really fun run before arriving at our hotel for a shower and rest before we play.”

This is not the duo’s first motorcycle-powered tour. Reese recalled an eight-day, 2800km South Island concert tour in 2012 as “probably the best motorcycle ride of my whole life.”

“We rode one day from Wānaka to Westport in one go and it was a beautiful day. It was a Tuesday and no traffic. It was like our own private rollercoaster,” Reese said.

“I remember we pulled up at the hotel and Mike took off his helmet and had this huge grin. He looked at me and said, ‘you wanna turn around and go back again?’ It was magic.”

Timeless Beauty showcases music by Baroque giants Handel and Telemann, along with renowned English composer Matthew Locke.

The NZSO ensemble, featuring 26 of New Zealand’s finest musicians, is led by concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppanen.

Audiences will be treated to two masterpieces by Handel: his majestic Overture and Symphonia from Occasional Oratorio and the sublime Alcina Suite from his opera.

Kirgan and Reese will be soloists alongside associate principal trumpet, David Johnson, and sub-principal trumpet, Mark Carter.

“I’m very excited to be part of the Telemann concerto, as it will be the first time I have played it,” Reese said. “Audiences will love it.”