The Lord of the Rings is filmed in New Zealand.  I grew up with the
fabulous NZSO and since moving to the UK now appreciate even more their
dark layered sound.  I hope they play on the soundtrack.  If you want to
hear what this underrated orchestra is capable of try:

*Lilburn Symphs 1-3 NZSO/Hopkins (Continum)
*Roza El Cid NZSO/Sedares (Koch)
*Roza Variations etc NZSO/Sedares (Koch)
*Roza Symphony (world premiere) NZSO/Sedares (Koch)

Another thing I appreciate in retrospect about orchestral concerts in NZ
are the concert halls.  The Auckland Town Hall was built at the turn of the
century and is a copy of the Gwendhaus Leipzig, destroyed by Allied bombers
in WWII.  The sound is glittering and precise with lots of air and bloom.
The sonic opposite of the above-ground nuclear fall-out shelter in Leipzig
today.

Kind regards,

David Harbin
(now) Nottingham, UK