Hallelujah! Dunedin

Hallelujah! Dunedinites, you have another great opportunity to hear Handel's glorious oratorio, Messiah on Tuesday 13 December, 7:30 pm, in the Regent Theatre.

Extra, extra! Dunedin's beloved Anna Leese will sing the soprano solo role. Get your tickets now from TicketDirect online or at the Regent.

Here is the Hallelujah! chorus from Handel's sacred oratorio Messiah (HWV 56) performed by City of Dunedin Choir and Southern Sinfonia, conducted by David Burchell, on 11 December 2007 in the Dunedin Town Hall.

From the Knox Church Choir Pews

Advent is upon us, so step away from the frantic build up to Christmas which we all get involved in and come along and enjoy some Christmas music. 

Advent Processional Carols
7.00 pm, Sunday, 27 November 2011
Knox Church, George Street
Knox Church Choir with the Sinfonia Brass present music from the 13th cent to 20th century as part of the traditional Advent Processional Carol Service.
Music by Praetorius, Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Kodaly, Karl Jenkins.

Nine Lessons and Carols
7.00 pm, Sunday, 18 December 2011
Knox Church, George Street
The choir will present traditional carols and music by Stravinsky, Madden, Shaw, Tchaikovsky, and Britten as part of the evening service.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, 11.30 pm
The Choir will sing carols from 10.50 pm

The Knox Junior Choristers are practising hard for their Christmas Recital.  Take a break from your daily toil and come and support them as they share a little bit of Christmas joy.

Art Gallery Recital
12.30 pm, Thursday, 22 December 2011, Art Gallery, Octagon
Gold coin donation
The Knox Church Junior choristers will present a programme of traditional carols and music for the season.  

Another part of the Knox Church music programme is the now well established Thursday lunchtime recitals.  During December our organists and organ pupils will be presenting a feast of music for Advent. 

Lunchtime Recitals
12.15 pm (usually finishes at 1 pm)
Knox Church, George Street

1 December: Music for Advent I presented by Peter Stockwell, Karen Knudson and Rhys Thorn

8 December: Music for Advent II presented by Mimi Blackwell, Richard Brown and Calla Knudson-Hollebon

15 December: Music for Christmas: The Old and the New – a programme presented by Ariana Knudson-Hollebon, Olivia Barber, Karen Knudson and Peter Stockwell.

Perhaps to finish with – something to tempt your interest in 2012 ....
* 7 pm,  Sunday, 29  January 2012 a solo cantata with organ accompaniment
* Mass by Cesar Franck – includes the well known  Panis Angelicus (date to be confirmed)
* Cantata by J S Bach – includes Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (date to be confirmed)
We look forward to seeing you at all or some of the above.

Merry Christmas from the Knox Church Choir
Knox Church, 449 George Street, Dunedin

Log splitting working bee

Peter Stone took these pictures last Saturday - 19th Nov. - when we held our second and final log splitting working bee.Those featured are Tree Cocks, Polly Mason, Ron Tindall, James Cordes, Nigel Tucker, Scott Blackwell and Peter. Scott provided the team with some more of his marvelous fruit cake.

You may ask what has this got to do with singing? Well, we are working hard to raise funds for our 150th anniversary celebrations in 2013, and without events like this we won't make the target. Thanks to Giles Wynn-Williams who donated the logs. The wood will be sold off in March 2012 after it's had a chance to dry.

Silent monks

You might enjoy this! We are rehearsing Messiah now, but certainly not silently. Our performance on Tuesday 13 December will be a few notches above this one, so get your tickets for Messiah without delay!

Also check out the nuns' version elsewhere on our blog.

Rich musical culture in Dunedin

We are so lucky there are many top-class musical events to choose from in our fair Dunedin. Here is what's coming up in the next few weeks:

George Chittenden Organ Recital
Friday 18 November at 7:30 pm, St Paul's Cathedral
Entry is free, but donations will be gladly accepted.

Strings Possessed
NZSO Strings ensemble
Wednesday 23 November at 6:30 pm, Otago Boys' High School
Tickets from TicketDirect or phone 0800 484 253

Ancient and Modern
Featuring one of our favourite sopranos - Lois Johnston
Thursday 24 November at 7:00 pm, St Paul's Cathedral
$20/$10 door sales

Voices of Aotearoa
Voices NZ Chamber Choir
Thursday 24 November at 7:30 pm, Knox Church
Tickets from TicketDirect or phone 0800 484 253
Adult  $55, Child $10, Student Rush $15 (available on the day, ID required), service fees apply.

Mediaeval Christmas Concert and Feast 
Rare Byrds, Fire Performers and Dancers
At Portobello : 6 pm Saturday 26 November
Bookings essential (for catering)
$25 waged; $20 unwaged; $10 children
Book through Ana (478 0537 - afterhours)
or Penguin Cafe, Portobello.
(A fundraiser for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust)

Handel's Messiah
Presented by City of Dunedin Choir and Southern Sinfonia
Featuring renowned soprano Anna Leese
Tuesday 13 December at 7:30 pm, Regent Theatre
Tickets from TicketDirect or phone 0800 484 253
Tickets range $14-$50, service fees apply

Notes and Neurons

Enjoy

Thank you Lion Foundation

Photo: Ian Thomson

This from the Lion Foundation's 2011 Annual Report that has just been released:

"Established in 1863, the City of Dunedin Choir is one of the oldest choral groups in the country. As Southern NZ’s leading exponent of large-scale choral works, their performance standards are extremely high. But it’s hard to sing to the rafters without an orchestra in the pit, so The Lion Foundation helped them acquire both an orchestra and a conductor for their Spring Concert Series. The rest, as they say, was music to the people’s ears."

Thank you for the on-going support Lion Foundation!