tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15148935971227104412024-03-14T19:17:11.823+13:00City Choir DunedinCity Choir Dunedin exists for people of all ages and from all walks of life who share a delight in choral singing. The Choir is based in Dunedin, New Zealand.Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-33664996668736987472024-01-23T16:37:00.003+13:002024-03-11T11:58:03.764+13:00Bach's St John Passion<!---------------------------------------------
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<br /><div><div><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOyi9PUk-qLNlf_l42bv2J9lU8Guk3qWpWfzpjG48FIzoadOIGDlHBxlE2UdXhhzGQ8teYxyNbOjnbz1H8JXMhOYI0qbhRC078pRC_NEPvQtbVxhtF-2GH_WIRmr4dQ-A0h0kzvaR4qNE-sO_H7FJcwNAYiA2o5nZr8SAXSF-lscO-w555KOgS7GT2o_0/s890/2024SJP-WebCarousel890x450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOyi9PUk-qLNlf_l42bv2J9lU8Guk3qWpWfzpjG48FIzoadOIGDlHBxlE2UdXhhzGQ8teYxyNbOjnbz1H8JXMhOYI0qbhRC078pRC_NEPvQtbVxhtF-2GH_WIRmr4dQ-A0h0kzvaR4qNE-sO_H7FJcwNAYiA2o5nZr8SAXSF-lscO-w555KOgS7GT2o_0/s16000/2024SJP-WebCarousel890x450.jpg" /></a></div>Bach's <i>St John Passion</i></span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sunday 24 March, 4:00 pm</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Town Hall</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conductor: David Burchell</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soloists: Iain Tetley (Evangelist), Patrick Shanahan (Christ), Caroline Burchell, Maaike Christie-Beekman, Lila Crichton, James Harrison (Pilate)</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Dunedin Symphony Orchestra</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fourteen years ago, in March 2010, City Choir Dunedin sang J.S. Bach’s <i>St John Passion</i> and is about to sing it again, 300 years after it was first performed. The work has been widely appreciated and performed worldwide over the centuries and has become a significant and enduring piece in the choral and classical music repertoire. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>St John Passion</i> is a haunting and dramatic musical depiction of the Easter story and has been revered since it was first performed in 1724. Under the baton of conductor David Burchell, the Choir is accompanied by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and will showcase six wonderful soloists. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A narrator, the Evangelist, has a key role throughout the Passion, with the choir taking various roles of the people, the Jews, and the crowd. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The action is heightened by some of the most emotionally intense arias every composed. Exquisite chorales of radiant music are scattered throughout, thus giving rise to rich contrasts and expressive musical and spiritual power. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This promises to be a performance of profound beauty that will linger in your heart long after the final note was heard.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/event/24006029AA290F9F" target="_blank">Tickets are now on sale!</a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tickets are also available from the Regent Theatre box office or by phone: 0800 111 999</span></div>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-63622044331044093512023-12-23T15:00:00.001+13:002024-01-21T13:47:30.458+13:00City Choir Dunedin<!---------------------------------------------
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<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Originating in 1863 and the second oldest choral society in New Zealand, City Choir Dunedin has played a significant role in the rich cultural life of the city. Directed by David Burchell since 2000, the choir performs to a very high standard music ranging from baroque to contemporary compositions. The Choir values performing regularly with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, as well as occasional collaborations with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Youth Orchestra, Southern Youth Choir, Christchurch City Choir and Auckland Choral.</div></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdENPUsxAh3gJue-oyHLJBzpBLj_HztlbOj_wsiwZ7J-XpM3XdOnoTskkOmQ3nvJxJllWzzp3GO2Hdj9lbivAgE53Y7h7vJYlgbN4Q4KrTtXfUNtVyg2yEZu7yt5rQkL34IkB0OoDSsd2Lz9EbR2wDzOZvmbWuBej9JfYMRUnNiqlg-vEa5W5DFe1Jgg/s1572/SingWithUs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1293" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdENPUsxAh3gJue-oyHLJBzpBLj_HztlbOj_wsiwZ7J-XpM3XdOnoTskkOmQ3nvJxJllWzzp3GO2Hdj9lbivAgE53Y7h7vJYlgbN4Q4KrTtXfUNtVyg2yEZu7yt5rQkL34IkB0OoDSsd2Lz9EbR2wDzOZvmbWuBej9JfYMRUnNiqlg-vEa5W5DFe1Jgg/w392-h477/SingWithUs.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Read more <a href="https://www.citychoirdunedin.org.nz/p/about.html" target="_blank"><b>about us</b></a>, <a href="https://www.citychoirdunedin.org.nz/p/singers.html" target="_blank"><b>sing with us</b></a> and <a href="https://www.citychoirdunedin.org.nz/p/friends.html" target="_blank"><b>support us</b></a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We offer <a href="https://www.citychoirdunedin.org.nz/p/singers.html#scholarship" target="_blank"><b>scholarships</b></a> to young singers!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Rehearsals for the 2024 concert season begin on <a href="https://www.citychoirdunedin.org.nz/p/members.html" target="_blank">Tuesday 30 January</a>.</span></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-34997633775821009752023-11-30T08:49:00.014+13:002024-01-23T16:16:31.879+13:00Choir’s best-ever ‘Messiah’ a treat<span style="font-size: large;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd_FIw1cJXbIDBnzyJM0IgsHPs-dkNLd4y0JALaAh7mW8qeI-O3ngnhrOM8Aoyy1HzMaiDgDm7bUDcf3QzsXwHziMXaFHua9menSFqwndy-ObSNGdSYgLRWsa1nAP6ftY6oMssbiflclfRXiKFuwfZDFkn29SyWil7JUbcLpCwoNd_9abfFUUqpDmUj9H/s890/2023Messiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd_FIw1cJXbIDBnzyJM0IgsHPs-dkNLd4y0JALaAh7mW8qeI-O3ngnhrOM8Aoyy1HzMaiDgDm7bUDcf3QzsXwHziMXaFHua9menSFqwndy-ObSNGdSYgLRWsa1nAP6ftY6oMssbiflclfRXiKFuwfZDFkn29SyWil7JUbcLpCwoNd_9abfFUUqpDmUj9H/s16000/2023Messiah.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Messiah, 25 November 2023. Photo: Ian Thomson</td></tr></tbody></table>Handel’s <i>Messiah </i></b></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">City Choir Dunedin, Dunedin Town Hall </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday, November 25 </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those who said, ‘‘I’ve heard it before’’ and stayed away missed a musical treat when, in a triumphant return, Handel’s <i>Messiah</i> was presented in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday evening. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a night to savour. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">With accompaniment by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin City Choir excelled in its best-ever performance of the work.
Conducted by choir director David Burchell, who also played the harpsichord, there was no sign that he — like many choir members — had just recovered from Covid. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Originally performed in the lead-up to Easter, <i>Messiah</i> is now a pre-Christmas fixture on musical calendars. Charles Jennens’ English libretto made accessible the story of Christ’s birth, crucifixion and resurrection, especially given the clear diction of all four soloists.
Elizabeth Mandeno (soprano), Maaike Christie-Beekman (alto), Lachlan Craig (tenor) and Wade Kernot (bass) delighted the audience. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Craig’s confident opening recitative set the scene, then — supported by the 70-strong choir — the story continued with Christie-Beekman’s strong depiction of the prophecy of the virgin birth and Kernot’s beautifully conveyed emotion in the Isaiah passage (‘‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light’’). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The soprano introduced the New Testament with the angels appearing to the shepherds and Mandeno’s clear rendition was a pleasure to hear. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The duets between alto and tenor, and alto and soprano were well done, although at times the voices were a little overwhelmed by the DSO. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Effectively a trumpet/bass duet, <i>The Trumpet Shall Sound</i> was truly impressive, Kernot’s superb breath control matched by that of trumpeter Ralph Miller. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Messiah</i> demands a lot of a choir. Dunedin City Choir impressed throughout but was at its very best in <i>We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray</i> and the final chorus, <i>Worthy is the Lamb</i>.
The choir’s discipline and the seamless transitions between chorus and soloists were a tribute to the many hours of rehearsal under Burchell’s direction, recognised by the well-deserved standing ovation given at <i>Messiah</i>’s conclusion.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday’s <i>Messiah</i> was the perfect lead-in to Advent. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Review by Gillian Vine, The Star 30 November 2023
</span></i></div>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-29435314520731474612023-11-27T10:31:00.006+13:002024-01-23T16:16:21.649+13:00A rite that endures for good reason<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPd7-pL_Uobqiwv3fKOqIZHvYKeNH5rX8RYqNooYw8hhcnshjMPSzvwNsir6J9aJIw2S7bmFR__rMEWBjLwiIwAfX8mFKzCdzkpO39N4ZYF6kbpx7OXItOKAjgj1eFArVGiESssiSjlyPxb_8BltDSW7Wbj4DhhlVSVaZfXO2upQfl16KTdD0X-mhvxXUp/s890/2023Messiah.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPd7-pL_Uobqiwv3fKOqIZHvYKeNH5rX8RYqNooYw8hhcnshjMPSzvwNsir6J9aJIw2S7bmFR__rMEWBjLwiIwAfX8mFKzCdzkpO39N4ZYF6kbpx7OXItOKAjgj1eFArVGiESssiSjlyPxb_8BltDSW7Wbj4DhhlVSVaZfXO2upQfl16KTdD0X-mhvxXUp/s16000/2023Messiah.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Ian Thomson 25 November 2023</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Messiah</i>, City Choir Dunedin and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin TownHall, Saturday, November 25, 2023. </span></b><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Southland Times
review of the premier of the entire
<i>Messiah</i>
by the Invercargill Philharmonic Society in 1878 noted the "indefatigable" conductor (Hautrie West) and that the "ordeal" of the rehearsals had met a "very successful performance", before an enthusiastic but sparse audience. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then as now, the effort required to bring such a vast and long work to fruition still requires its leader to be indefatigable, the choir to be committed to many rehearsals, and the instrumentalists to be ever present.
City Choir Dunedin, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and soloists Elizabeth Mandeno (soprano), Maaike Christie-Beekman (mezzo-soprano), Lachlan Craig (tenor) and Wade Kernot (bass) under David Burchell produced a highly successful performance. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The less than capacity audience included those who knew to stand up for, and sing along to the
<i>Hallelujah Chorus</i>.
It also included those new to this rite who grew fidgety over the work’s duration. They rewarded the performers with a prolonged standing ovation. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As in 1878 the <i>Messiah</i> presents its soloists with something of a rite of passage. The demands of the work are heavy. If the voice is not sufficiently agile or powerful the result can be turgid; every repetition requires renewal; performance stamina should endure long intervals of inactivity. Each had their highlights — Mandeno’s clarity in <i>There Were Shepherd</i>s and <i>Rejoice Greatly</i>, Beekman’s dramatic portrayal of <i>He was Despised and Rejected</i>, Craig’s pleading in <i>Behold and See if There be Any Sorrow</i> and Kernot’s triumphant <i>The Trumpet Shall Sound</i>. Each is also culpable of being tongue-tied in the more convoluted melodic lines. The choir’s devotion to task overcame similar shortfalls, but shone in those choruses sung from memory.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Handel’s stalwart <i>Messiah</i> is a rite that endures via its devotees’ devotions.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Review by Marian Poole, Otago Daily Times 27 November 2023.</i></span></div>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-27181653965131620822023-04-27T15:24:00.002+12:002023-04-28T15:36:35.454+12:00Choir rises to the occasion for concert<p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">
</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dd4Ppi6g_6YO5lVfPSoVEFImWeBFNUbKi0OGcmtm-pVevByBljmXjgo6q8z54XzQRH9Q-8ew_sZf8cbRlefeDwB4lyd-cwMAgXU_SZ08N5qE4-lqNS0BHNeoRWCdXrdkeAWkX5kBjwOxsj5SyzFbMhqLD16sez3Zi9VJ34k1FGRtqRwfhAJCWEJeOA/s890/2023Easter-WebCarousel890x450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dd4Ppi6g_6YO5lVfPSoVEFImWeBFNUbKi0OGcmtm-pVevByBljmXjgo6q8z54XzQRH9Q-8ew_sZf8cbRlefeDwB4lyd-cwMAgXU_SZ08N5qE4-lqNS0BHNeoRWCdXrdkeAWkX5kBjwOxsj5SyzFbMhqLD16sez3Zi9VJ34k1FGRtqRwfhAJCWEJeOA/s16000/2023Easter-WebCarousel890x450.jpg" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Alleluia! Music for Eastertide
</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
Dunedin City Choir Saturday, 22 April 2023, Knox Church
<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In "Alleluia! Music for Eastertide", City Choir Dunedin rose to the occasion on Saturday evening, presenting a programme of music from the 16th to the 21st century.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Staged in a well-filled Knox Church, the concert, under the baton of David Burchell, opened with a nicely balanced, unaccompanied rendition of Samuel Scheidt’s Easter carol <i>Surrexit Christus Hodie</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An early cantata, J.S. Bach’s <i>Christ lag in Todes Banden</i>, followed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The gloomy introduction from Dunedin Symphony Orchestra players led into a more joyous mood from the choir, then soprano Caroline Burchell and mezzo Erin Connelly-Whyte sang the duet, each voice perfectly complementing the other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tenor Brendon Shanks and bass Edward Smith were soloists, the latter impressing with a powerful voice, while in Shanks’ duet with Burchell, the tenor seemed more confident than in his solo.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the evening’s greatest challenges for the choir was Josef Rheinberger’s <i>Osterhymne</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 19th-century German composer wrote this for two choirs, so the City Choir was divided in half, singing unaccompanied in Latin. The result was a pleasure to listen to, as the two groups portrayed the battle between life and death.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Conductor Burchell’s own new work, <i>O Sons and Daughters</i>, opened the second half and was even more challenging for the choir.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unaccompanied, the hymn – based on a medieval text – had complex interwoven elements and the many hours of rehearsal paid off in delivering the irregular metres with an aplomb a professional choir would have envied.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From its rich introduction, Georg Philipp Telemann’s <i>Zwei Junger gehn nach Emmaus</i> delighted the audience.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his solo, Shanks was at his best, clearly enunciating the story of Christ’s two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Then Smith and Connelly-Whyte provided the sermon central to the work, leading into the choir’s joyful conclusion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For a crowd pleaser, the final work had it all. Mozart was only 16 when he wrote <i>Regina Coeli</i> in B flat, yet it showed great maturity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first movement, with its extended orchestral introduction, gave the choir another opportunity to shine, while the second and third movements were dominated by the splendid voice of Burchell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Completely in control and most ably supported by the choir and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, she delighted throughout.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Alleluia! Music for Eastertide" was a triumph for City Choir Dunedin, musical director Burchell, the four soloists, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, and organist Micah Xiang.</div></span><br />
Reviewed by GILLIAN VINE for The Star, 27 April 2023<p></p>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-61210056222347338642023-04-24T15:34:00.006+12:002024-01-23T16:14:55.425+13:00Highlights shine<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54-j-FV3Zh5cpDsMH6Z2kJhRV4Hd2teypWYfDKrI-Bx_Mm-3EOzgGvSp9ZyKtPhubR5vp5nnKiwkNzKirGtxFIz0t2krNYdp0PEczhE1ClBlRF6JtGhpDXh_EFmCkZaL9HbdbsHtzSAzZhBb79bQnnixeJNXLlEfZ70Ht6GVBvFiwmLqm7wrYCVpPEQ/s890/2023Easter-WebCarousel890x450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54-j-FV3Zh5cpDsMH6Z2kJhRV4Hd2teypWYfDKrI-Bx_Mm-3EOzgGvSp9ZyKtPhubR5vp5nnKiwkNzKirGtxFIz0t2krNYdp0PEczhE1ClBlRF6JtGhpDXh_EFmCkZaL9HbdbsHtzSAzZhBb79bQnnixeJNXLlEfZ70Ht6GVBvFiwmLqm7wrYCVpPEQ/s16000/2023Easter-WebCarousel890x450.jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alleluia! Music for Eastertide</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday 22 April 2023, Knox Church</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A full house turned out for the Easter celebration staged by City Choir Dunedin with members of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and guest soloists led by David Burchell at Knox Church on Saturday night.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite their numbers being depleted somewhat by a fourth wave of Covid-19, the choir put in a sturdy performance of a technically very challenging programme. The twists, turns and vocal agility demanded by baroque music was designed to be challenging even for professional voices.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Part of the excitement of antiphonal music is the inherent risk of becoming a confused and turgid noise. This risk was sadly realised on several occasions. However, there were enough highlights to win the performers and the performance enthusiastic applause.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soloist soprano Caroline Burchell has a growing creditable repertoire and shows great agility particularly in the solo parts of Mozart’s <i>Regina Coeli</i>. While minced words were all too frequently the cost of this agility, Burchell’s voice and her ease of presentation should take her far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mezzo-soprano Erin Connelly-Whyte has a beautiful, warm voice. Her duet with Burchell in Bach’s <i>Christ lag in Todes Banden</i> showed her power in harmonising. Connelly-Whyte’s solo in Telemann’s <i>Zwei Junger</i> highlighted her lyric strength.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tenor Brendan Shanks showed some uncertainty but a capacity for a powerful presentation particularly in his aria from Bach’s <i>Christ lag</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bass Edward Smith also showed the weaknesses of a new performer facing a difficult work but overall put up a powerful performance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">David Burchell’s composition <i>O Sons and Daughters</i> proved to be one of those moments in which the choir was severely stretched. The work displays some allegiance to Finzi’s rhythmic contrivances and is, overall, a very accessible work. Vocal articulation and momentum suffered but both were reprieved by a strong finish.</div></span><p></p><p><span>Review by Marian Poole, Otago Daily Times, 24 April 2023</span></p>
Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-42268812640556636772023-01-01T13:23:00.004+13:002024-01-02T14:16:54.751+13:002023 Concert Season<div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMXEB9EhiBzF_8B4uLr9bL3UmLlfTsYw1FVE5LhzaqHPHWji6chBBXuXAFDkOk_E2gq6DuMKOoSzcaZHLZM9yyb901Kc2dm2WuGmKCurqJ3udIS-xCv6SXs2hPucutb5q72rGnkW9OaQlUGS_61bkzsdYdP0MDqUI4c8kf6UCTrU7SU8CTC2JuN9MBg/s890/DSC_2911%20890x452px.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMXEB9EhiBzF_8B4uLr9bL3UmLlfTsYw1FVE5LhzaqHPHWji6chBBXuXAFDkOk_E2gq6DuMKOoSzcaZHLZM9yyb901Kc2dm2WuGmKCurqJ3udIS-xCv6SXs2hPucutb5q72rGnkW9OaQlUGS_61bkzsdYdP0MDqUI4c8kf6UCTrU7SU8CTC2JuN9MBg/s16000/DSC_2911%20890x452px.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Ian Thomson, August 2020.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alleluia! Music for Eastertide</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 22 April, 7:30 pm</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knox Church</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conductor: David Burchell</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soloists: Caroline Burchell, Erin Connelly-Whyte, Brendon Shanks, Edward Smith</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Symphony Orchestra</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Choral performances at Easter tend to focus on the repertoire inspired by the crucifixion story, but there is a wealth of beautiful music which celebrates Christ’s resurrection, and this was the focus of our April concert. We presented music from across the centuries, including the the première of David Burchell's latest work.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel Scheidt: <i>Surrexit Christus hodie</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">J.S. Bach: <i>Christ lag in Todesbanden</i>, BWV 4</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Josef Rheinberger: <i>Osterhymne,</i> Op. 134</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">David Burchell: <i>O Sons and Daughters</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Telemann: <i>Zwei Jünger gehn nach Emmaus</i>, TVWV 1:1738a</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mozart: <i>Regina Coeli, </i>K. 127</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Brahms's <i>Deutsches Requiem</i>, Christchurch</span></b></div><div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 19 August</b></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Christchurch Town Hall</span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Presented by Christchurch City Choir</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">City Choir Dunedin traveled to Christchurch to join the Christchurch City Choir and </span><span style="font-size: large;">the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Brahms's <i>Deutsches Requiem</i> and <i>Schicksalslied</i>.</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: #cc0000;">Dunedin Youth Orchestra: Force of Destiny</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friday 15 September</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knox Church</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">City Choir Dunedin joined the DYO on stage in their concert, performing the second movement from the Brahms </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: #444444;">Deutsches Requiem,</i><span> 'Den Alles Fleisch'</span></span></div></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ravel's <i>Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No. 2</i></span></span></b></div><div style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Friday 3 November</span></b></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Town Hall</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presented by New Zealand Symphony Orchestra</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">City Choir Dunedin joined the NZSO in a performance of the Ravel suite, staged in the Dunedin Town Hall. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><font><span style="font-size: x-large;">Handel's</span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Messiah</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></font></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday 25 November, 7:30 pm</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Town Hall</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conductor: David Burchell</span></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soloists: Elizabeth Mandeno, Maaike Christie-Beekman, Lachlan Craig, Wade Kernot</span></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Symphony Orchestra</span></span></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></span></div></font></span></div><div style="font-size: large;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Handel’s <i>Messiah</i> is heard around the world during the Christmas season, being greatly appreciated, admired and enjoyed. </span></div></div></span></span></div></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGQZG30968pbmcTzx62CvfQQNFkBdX6-4xjXGKVAincAbejmyelwcX_cy-fMnn-sbEnWN6V5mBHWzV4ifxX2wpNfNLmfDktatDSVAXHGCbwBJAttMZgfwSysGaKMgmipn3Ar9d0NCibM/s1170/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hnsvHjW3TlVuSaAohzf1WZ4IfjWKd3CBs7oO5a7FZ7mxw06Llwj-Jn3v9GsmPgxNonZcFI_BU25uigumb5i5Aal28KLdUu_X0WxrqTs6aMl_oZ-RAJYnH3Hb26cAu8YcPMWdJBnsUy6WDbCLtFD2REelhR1uAQcyVTYc5a6hUnRP8gQAoGjaoZlnuA/s890/CarolsAtOM890x450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hnsvHjW3TlVuSaAohzf1WZ4IfjWKd3CBs7oO5a7FZ7mxw06Llwj-Jn3v9GsmPgxNonZcFI_BU25uigumb5i5Aal28KLdUu_X0WxrqTs6aMl_oZ-RAJYnH3Hb26cAu8YcPMWdJBnsUy6WDbCLtFD2REelhR1uAQcyVTYc5a6hUnRP8gQAoGjaoZlnuA/s16000/CarolsAtOM890x450.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum</span></span></b></div></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday 23 December, 2:00 pm</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tūhura Otago Museum</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">David Burchell, conductor</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soloists: Caroline Burchell, Sarah Baird, Ben France-Hudson, Alex McAdam</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mark Anderson, assistant conductor</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Roland Storm, pianist</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Celebrate Christmas with the ringing chords and melodious voices of one of Ōtepoti’s favourite choirs. City Choir Dunedin filled Tūhura Otago Museum's Atrium with their uplifting harmonies. With holiday favourites on the grand piano, and classical choral pieces, this is a festive walk down memory lane and a chance to celebrate the joy and connection of Christmas
with your community.</span></div>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-28087327680092264742022-12-06T16:57:00.001+13:002022-12-06T16:57:30.778+13:00Contrasting but complementary works beautifully performed<div style="text-align: justify;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLJhR-jEQB0KT9SlYiJ9pH0u8hY_hDaS_o_a6hBdQnzsXENSQSCGzwkALVKAwjzlmZBtNsrNmyCxWNA_jZTGAycVRfKdmtLgOWNpE1oHc0QDyvpVcXj89iB2_9w2al4UTp4fCJ0tkAVcxKhFFKrh00i79erN11sbcNyd4k1R1KVPWjRAlCKj8Q77ilg/s890/Concert2022Mozart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLJhR-jEQB0KT9SlYiJ9pH0u8hY_hDaS_o_a6hBdQnzsXENSQSCGzwkALVKAwjzlmZBtNsrNmyCxWNA_jZTGAycVRfKdmtLgOWNpE1oHc0QDyvpVcXj89iB2_9w2al4UTp4fCJ0tkAVcxKhFFKrh00i79erN11sbcNyd4k1R1KVPWjRAlCKj8Q77ilg/s16000/Concert2022Mozart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Mozart <i>Requiem</i></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 26 November 2022</b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">, Knox Church</span></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The vaulted roof and lovely acoustics of Knox Church were the perfect setting for City Choir Dunedin's performance of two contrasting, but complementary choral works - Mozart's <i>Requiem</i> and Forrest's <i>the breath of life</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Conducted by David Burchell, the choir was joined by an excellent group of soloists in Caroline Burchell (soprano), Claire Barton (mezzo-soprano), Scott Bezett (tenor), and Edward Smith (bass), with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, and Valerie Xiang (organ) and Sandra Crawshaw (piano) in sterling support.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The concert began with the New Zealand première of Forrest's 2019 atmospheric work <i>the breath of life</i>, portraying the beauty, yet brevity, of human life. From the opening moments of sibilant breathing from the choir, the piece maintains a contemplative tone throughout, melding voices, orchestra, piano, and digital sounds together in a satisfying whole.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The full forces of choir, orchestra and soloists then marshalled under Burchell's direction in a vigorous, nicely balanced performance of Mozart's <i>Requiem</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In a work filled with moments of drama and poignancy, the choir highlights for this reviewer were the opening <i>Requiem, Kyrie, Dies Irae</i>, the beautiful <i>Lacrimosa</i>, and the <i>Agnus Dei</i>. Gentle moments were beautifully rendered, and some fiendishly quick fugue passages were tackled with aplomb.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The soloists were superb in solo passages and worked well together to blend their voices in the <i>Tuba mirum, Recordare</i>, and <i>Benedictus</i> movements, with Caroline Burchell's clear soprano soaring beautifully above.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The DSO players were excellent in support, adding form and colour to a wonderful musical experience. Bravo!</span></div><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Review by Brenda Harwood, <i>The Star</i>, 1 December 2022.</span></p>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-81611648420570819622022-11-28T09:14:00.003+13:002022-12-06T16:38:56.287+13:00Strong performance of popular requiem<div style="text-align: justify;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLJhR-jEQB0KT9SlYiJ9pH0u8hY_hDaS_o_a6hBdQnzsXENSQSCGzwkALVKAwjzlmZBtNsrNmyCxWNA_jZTGAycVRfKdmtLgOWNpE1oHc0QDyvpVcXj89iB2_9w2al4UTp4fCJ0tkAVcxKhFFKrh00i79erN11sbcNyd4k1R1KVPWjRAlCKj8Q77ilg/s890/Concert2022Mozart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLJhR-jEQB0KT9SlYiJ9pH0u8hY_hDaS_o_a6hBdQnzsXENSQSCGzwkALVKAwjzlmZBtNsrNmyCxWNA_jZTGAycVRfKdmtLgOWNpE1oHc0QDyvpVcXj89iB2_9w2al4UTp4fCJ0tkAVcxKhFFKrh00i79erN11sbcNyd4k1R1KVPWjRAlCKj8Q77ilg/s16000/Concert2022Mozart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Mozart <i>Requiem</i></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 26 November 2022</b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">, Knox Church</span></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Mozart's <i>Requiem</i> is popular repertoire for large choirs, writes Elizabeth Bouman.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last Saturday evening this famous requiem was sung in Knox Church by City Choir Dunedin accompanied by members of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Sandra Crawshaw (piano), Valerie Xiang (organ) and soloists Caroline Burchell (soprano), Claire Barton (alto), Scott Bezett (tenor) and Edward Smith (bass).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Requiem</i> is a funeral mass, written by Mozart in the weeks before his own death. He left it unfinished, and historians like to believe he knew he was nearing the end of his own life, despite it being a commissioned work. Scored for a baroque-sized orchestra, choir and four soloists, it follows the traditional eight section sequence, with Latin text of mourning and remembrance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Conductor David Burchell choose a good forward-moving tempo, achieving a strong performance overall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Lacrimosa</i> and <i>Sanctus</i> were highlights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also on the programme was a contemporary choral (2019) work, <i>the breath of life</i>, by American Dan Forrest (1978-).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Audience members with a programme and time to read the descriptive notes beforehand listened with an extra dimension. But without knowledge of text or theme the listener could find the work rather repetitive, swamped with thick harmonies and inexplicable orchestral statements and textures.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps a narrator between movements could have charted events, as the evocative soundscape outlined life from the miracle of birth to the bereavement of death.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dramatic script from the Bible, classic and modern poetry set sensitive text, but not always clearly enunciated by the 70-strong choir.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entire work was sensual and imaginative with changing colours and moods throughout, from the breathy opening, emotive cello lyricism, choral harmony climaxing the miracle of birth, life experiences, the fading of life and mourning of death.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the first New Zealand performance of <i>the breath of life</i>, and I felt Dunedin’s musicians gave a commendable performance.</div></span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Review by Elizabeth Bouman, <i>Otago Daily Times</i>, 28 November 2022.</span></p>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-3531937074687319122022-08-29T11:28:00.007+12:002022-08-29T11:33:16.813+12:00Excellent performance from choir and musicians<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtoRK-AGyYGBj58mX95Uj16GBdYgWOhp1r4SYV04gHGPe3oF6-BbSrLtn1R00Kdd1qxGJxLUQ7gSpIt2_Hb0howibmqz4Ek4TWMk7svlfOPLAAxCb07yoc8tipb3Snc7K7S3ZPhv6uL0nTDSSa7XRUDo8ENfxnu-UdSC8l8-CtbEdrYVmkZ2Jv4qt/s5144/P1051905c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="5144" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtoRK-AGyYGBj58mX95Uj16GBdYgWOhp1r4SYV04gHGPe3oF6-BbSrLtn1R00Kdd1qxGJxLUQ7gSpIt2_Hb0howibmqz4Ek4TWMk7svlfOPLAAxCb07yoc8tipb3Snc7K7S3ZPhv6uL0nTDSSa7XRUDo8ENfxnu-UdSC8l8-CtbEdrYVmkZ2Jv4qt/w675-h158/P1051905c.JPG" title="City Choir Dunedin, 28 August 2022, Knox Church. Photo: John Roxborogh" width="675" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div>City Choir Dunedin, <i>Petite Messe Solennelle</i>, Knox Church, Sunday, August 28 </div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Knox Church was yesterday’s venue for City Choir Dunedin’s performance of <i>Petite Messe Solennelle</i>, by Gioachino Rossini. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 50-member choir was in excellent form in the well-filled church. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Luckily there was a plan B for these uncertain times, as both an advertised soloist and pianist were unavailable. David Burchell conducted and the soloists were soprano Rebecca Ryan, mezzo Sarah Court (replacing Claire Barton), tenor Jared Holt and bass Federico Freschi. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In his earlier years, Rossini composed about 40 operas, but after 30 years and at the age of 71, he "came out of retirement" in 1863 to write a Mass for the inauguration of a private chapel, originally a salon-styled work, very operatic in style, with piano and harmonium accompaniment. (Rossini did orchestrate the work at a later date.) </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Pianists Tom McGrath (replacing Sandra Crawshaw) and John van Buskirk provided excellent accompaniment throughout, with Ron Newton on a harmonium adding a legato quality to the more percussive character of pianoforte scoring.
I felt the harmonium could have been much stronger in volume, many times when underpinning the two pianos. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After a couple of rather ominous heavy chords, a spirited forward-moving introduction launched the Kyrie and the choir immediately impressed with a fine balance of harmony and nuance. The entire work is frequently punctuated with dramatic contrapuntal passages, crammed with unexpected rhythmic surprises and modulations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The sacred text declares it a Mass, and there was no mistaking the lengthy florid A-men’s but the piano Preludio religioso was a beautiful passage in secular style which could well be mistaken for a Beethoven work, and the various solos were indeed intensely operatic in delivery. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Ryan’s solos were superb, lyrical and immaculate in their interpretation. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Freschi was rich and powerfully operatic, Holt matched with compelling tenor strength and Court maintained strong resonance in her lowest passages, something that is sometimes missing with mezzo lines. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Well done to all in presenting Rossini’s <i>Petite Messe</i> with such intense drama and excellent musicianship.
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span><i>Review by Elizabeth Bouman, ODT, 29 August 2022</i></span></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-18426566534951833502022-01-01T10:48:00.010+13:002023-01-07T10:53:35.650+13:002022 Concert Season<div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInOnPAB1AXC8ItEIKuRkKk27ZjR_z_tU7_a64KhzkzPGAOvwc6xUKnUSjrPNaZMNA5YLWWHr4P7y_xUInPMwG-oOTm7Fw3Jp32PMw9m_MdR8w39rbh7YTVnRUBH2XQjT_aUaxs9tzwrhRjC2T7FxW-jjOnKiABYIm_r3MOGHdU2bR82id0WLqvQKT/s1170/DSO-Eventfinder-2022-Int1-1170x504-new.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInOnPAB1AXC8ItEIKuRkKk27ZjR_z_tU7_a64KhzkzPGAOvwc6xUKnUSjrPNaZMNA5YLWWHr4P7y_xUInPMwG-oOTm7Fw3Jp32PMw9m_MdR8w39rbh7YTVnRUBH2XQjT_aUaxs9tzwrhRjC2T7FxW-jjOnKiABYIm_r3MOGHdU2bR82id0WLqvQKT/w640-h276/DSO-Eventfinder-2022-Int1-1170x504-new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Celebrating Matariki - Whakanuia Matariki</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 2 July, 7:30 pm</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Town Hall</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Presented by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The women of City Choir Dunedin joined the orchestra on stage for 'Neptune' from Holst's <i>The Planets</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUvrIhnvZ8gAG8awECbXzcRo8wce_A-6q6PLNdLetILhWhQekDx0zkZsAFs41e8_BR6_pbYLIVTG9KcsFe05RMjcPl8PCH9BzInbz_gYqFHFfGQZ-lNlftv8bbJAmZXHS7woNLf3Dgo4vTvmeQTzmYj9cb8SzXfkEgq7ghonPezpQmZ3bgrBjmnKO/s2438/2022-Ukraine-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2438" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUvrIhnvZ8gAG8awECbXzcRo8wce_A-6q6PLNdLetILhWhQekDx0zkZsAFs41e8_BR6_pbYLIVTG9KcsFe05RMjcPl8PCH9BzInbz_gYqFHFfGQZ-lNlftv8bbJAmZXHS7woNLf3Dgo4vTvmeQTzmYj9cb8SzXfkEgq7ghonPezpQmZ3bgrBjmnKO/w640-h276/2022-Ukraine-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Concert for Ukraine</b></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b>Sunday 17 July, 4:30 pm</b></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Dunedin Town Hall</span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">This Ukraine benefit concert included the Cellists of Otago, Café Operana and other artists, together with City Choir Dunedin and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, who donated their talent and time for the people of the Ukraine. Red Cross Otago deposited over $16,000 towards the Red Cross in Ukraine.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8yMb9Z0lNWlPus8f-yxJZZl7xGBRmI_o4_hkC1Bcv8bFi_jW8twQbp6RaNSLLR-fbD19XFOox6FIyLWEJ89bFuGFNAHKldkvYnXVibTObJwDgnvlda8UXngnms2TtHqhAzvxWe4SZ_p9O3Bdk0W0ksHuNrSyCYj44BPDNfNsvcAm-STKQkWENTJc/s1171/Monster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1171" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8yMb9Z0lNWlPus8f-yxJZZl7xGBRmI_o4_hkC1Bcv8bFi_jW8twQbp6RaNSLLR-fbD19XFOox6FIyLWEJ89bFuGFNAHKldkvYnXVibTObJwDgnvlda8UXngnms2TtHqhAzvxWe4SZ_p9O3Bdk0W0ksHuNrSyCYj44BPDNfNsvcAm-STKQkWENTJc/w640-h276/Monster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Mozart's Monster Mash</span></b></div><div style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday 30 July 7:00 pm</span></b></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunedin Town Hall</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presented by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">The DSO and City Choir Dunedin were joined by musicians and singers of all ages and skill levels in a community play-in concert – 'Mozart's Monster Mash'. </span><div style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoIERfOvt99s2xvHY7EC_oS3cFqCEP0Z9_2CT67B48mp_0cQDLwNDEEKnYXKLJq5_0F3KYQwvta8f-WLJUtAd5P7OmbHdP0ygZ5kzWOFJt3sP_AS_Geq_mVE43zaLIOGQWeUTw79lU138/s2438/2021-10Rossini-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2438" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoIERfOvt99s2xvHY7EC_oS3cFqCEP0Z9_2CT67B48mp_0cQDLwNDEEKnYXKLJq5_0F3KYQwvta8f-WLJUtAd5P7OmbHdP0ygZ5kzWOFJt3sP_AS_Geq_mVE43zaLIOGQWeUTw79lU138/w640-h276/2021-10Rossini-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><font><span style="font-size: large;">Rossini</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Petite Messe Solennelle</span> </i></font></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunday 28 August 2:30 pm</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knox Church</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></span></div></font></span></div><div style="font-size: large;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">DAVID BURCHELL, conductor</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">SOLOISTS: Rebecca Ryan (soprano), Claire Barton (alto), Jared Holt (tenor), Federico Freschi (bass)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">MUSICIANS: John van Buskirk (piano), Sandra Crawshaw (piano), Ron Newton (harmonium)</span></div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) referred to his <i>Petite Messe Solennelle</i> as the 'last mortal sin of my old age'. This magnificent masterpiece of whimsy and joy is neither small, nor solemn!</span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvP7AH04g044ISzCpap_cSdvVxKkH05RUj_aTHv4g_zWsEW0wUEBv8BqGJPU6KD9DZCuwku_TewefU4LIR2B-TN_QAiDgULFsze5Cw4VTcJh2dYZnkB6css6fmvXoiY6ki9BSetlwWC4HXiWTa06HywnFewB8P5dgt8A6CUbr2JRSMZE50mC9iGxCvQ/s2438/2022Mozart-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2438" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvP7AH04g044ISzCpap_cSdvVxKkH05RUj_aTHv4g_zWsEW0wUEBv8BqGJPU6KD9DZCuwku_TewefU4LIR2B-TN_QAiDgULFsze5Cw4VTcJh2dYZnkB6css6fmvXoiY6ki9BSetlwWC4HXiWTa06HywnFewB8P5dgt8A6CUbr2JRSMZE50mC9iGxCvQ/w640-h276/2022Mozart-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Mozart <i>Requiem</i></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 26 November, 7:30 pm</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Knox Church</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Presented by City Choir Dunedin</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;">DAVID BURCHELL, conductor</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">SOLOISTS: Caroline Burchell (soprano), Claire Barton (mezzo), Scott Bezett (tenor) and Edward Smith (bass)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mozart’s masterful <i>Requiem</i> is a favourite choral work and one of the most frequently performed treasures from the classical repertoire. The companion work on the programme was the American contemporary composer Dan Forrest’s <i>the breath of life</i>.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGQZG30968pbmcTzx62CvfQQNFkBdX6-4xjXGKVAincAbejmyelwcX_cy-fMnn-sbEnWN6V5mBHWzV4ifxX2wpNfNLmfDktatDSVAXHGCbwBJAttMZgfwSysGaKMgmipn3Ar9d0NCibM/s1170/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGQZG30968pbmcTzx62CvfQQNFkBdX6-4xjXGKVAincAbejmyelwcX_cy-fMnn-sbEnWN6V5mBHWzV4ifxX2wpNfNLmfDktatDSVAXHGCbwBJAttMZgfwSysGaKMgmipn3Ar9d0NCibM/w640-h276/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum</span></span></b></div></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sunday 18 December, 2:00 pm</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Otago Museum</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">DAVID BURCHELL, conductor</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">MARK ANDERSON, assistant conductor</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas music for the festive season, presented in the annual free performance at the Otago Museum.</span></div>Letahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955373992884166956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-50449461820531041912021-12-10T10:06:00.002+13:002021-12-11T15:04:35.628+13:00Christmas Carols Live at the Otago Museum<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcDfT7sv4pF4PPqS_lQUWfzsvijIUxm13jWNADE2OTuMJDJn1HzjlHo27XGIBNbnd0b_fqHQN6oXi3wTtKqyt14SEfvVronVkJjnbmfidUFJoF7bGCrMXRGNRR4sv4JjUZuMyWZRh71ux/s1170/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcDfT7sv4pF4PPqS_lQUWfzsvijIUxm13jWNADE2OTuMJDJn1HzjlHo27XGIBNbnd0b_fqHQN6oXi3wTtKqyt14SEfvVronVkJjnbmfidUFJoF7bGCrMXRGNRR4sv4JjUZuMyWZRh71ux/w640-h276/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Carols @ OM</b></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sunday 19 December 2021, 2:00 pm<br />Upper level Atrium at the Otago Museum</span></b></p><p>Conducted by DAVID BURCHELL
and MARK ANDERSON </p><p>City Choir Dunedin presents an hour-long programme of
Christmas music for the festive season.
Come along to this free performance (koha appreciated) to welcome
the spirit of Christmas at a time of joy and reflection. </p><p>The programme will include some old favourites like 'The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Joy to the World", some more unknown carols like "Alleluya, a New Work is Come to Hand" and a snippet from Handel's <i>Messiah</i>: "For Unto Us a Child is Born".</p><p>Thank you for sharing our music! We wish you
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</p><p>For those intending to perform or attend <b>Christmas Carols Live at the Otago Museum</b> on 19 December, be aware the Otago Museum is a vaccine mandated building, and <b>you will be required to have your vaccine pass validated</b> at the entrance.</p>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-85816111384912260982021-12-09T13:17:00.008+13:002021-12-12T13:25:11.213+13:00Stellar soloists make beloved classic sing<p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ8UlAgpoKaPbXrJ-gOxBDLU4zp0YYHJP72vRjl1dVnqS30pXYqAOqsNk8Myj6NL67HzE_QGjcL2qEe4gclVlcemTH6wvqhuZviNKGgYd8tqH91RCsC9gkn1FyPIE0z51ptCa_WB8JWWS/s1620/2021Messiah-IanThomson4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Messiah 2021. Photo by Ian Thomson." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ8UlAgpoKaPbXrJ-gOxBDLU4zp0YYHJP72vRjl1dVnqS30pXYqAOqsNk8Myj6NL67HzE_QGjcL2qEe4gclVlcemTH6wvqhuZviNKGgYd8tqH91RCsC9gkn1FyPIE0z51ptCa_WB8JWWS/w640-h426/2021Messiah-IanThomson4.jpg" title="Messiah 2021. Photo by Ian Thomson." width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><br />Handel's Messiah</b></span><p></p><p><b>Tuesday 7 December 2021, Dunedin Town Hall</b></p><p>City Choir Dunedin, four fine soloists and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra turned in stellar performances at the choir's two-yearly presentation of Handel's <i>Messiah</i> on Tuesday evening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F9oAAU66Egc/YbVA9TGPvJI/AAAAAAAAE0I/nl4Qpyugo7QFHlNX5pdHeP-hpYa0Wd6LgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1664/2021Messiah-review-TheStar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1434" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F9oAAU66Egc/YbVA9TGPvJI/AAAAAAAAE0I/nl4Qpyugo7QFHlNX5pdHeP-hpYa0Wd6LgCNcBGAsYHQ/w552-h640/2021Messiah-review-TheStar.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Review by Gillian Vine, The Star, 9 December 2021.</i></div><br /><p><br /></p>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-66321356615817602412021-12-09T12:56:00.040+13:002021-12-12T13:17:30.121+13:00Messiah: Soloists cap splendid showing<p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkRl_uFM7Mg/YbU-gmDDYtI/AAAAAAAAEz4/V47c9gFpbcQbHhz-jpOqi3Q0zRlfiZ2WACNcBGAsYHQ/s1774/2021Messiah-IanThomson2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Messiah 2021. Photo by Ian Thomson." border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1774" height="451" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkRl_uFM7Mg/YbU-gmDDYtI/AAAAAAAAEz4/V47c9gFpbcQbHhz-jpOqi3Q0zRlfiZ2WACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h451/2021Messiah-IanThomson2.jpg" title="Messiah 2021. Photo by Ian Thomson." width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />Handel's Messiah</span></b><p></p><p><b>Tuesday 7 December 2021, Dunedin Town Hall</b></p>
Handel could never have imagined <i>Messiah</i>, his oratorio written in 1741, would live on through generations, becoming such a popular work throughout the world, especially on the Christian calendar, where it is customary to perform it before Christmas. <div><br /></div><div>City Choir Dunedin, accompanied by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Burchell , delivered this massive dramatic musical work to a very appreciative audience on Tuesday evening in the Dunedin Town Hall. </div><div><br /></div><div>The soloists were Lois Johnston (soprano), Claire Barton (alto), Oliver Sewell (tenor), and Paul Whelan (bass). </div><div><br /></div><div>I have attended and reviewed many performances of <i>Messiah</i> and along with others to whom I spoke, felt this performance was one of the best.
Maybe after a lean year for live musical events it was the exhilaration of just being in the town hall as the drama and passion of text unfolded.
But the musicians were definitely all in top form, and Sewell’s opening <i>Comfort Ye</i> and aria certainly set a very high benchmark for others to follow, as glorious tenor timbre and robust cadential ornamentation filled the auditorium. </div><div><br /></div><div>The choir of 90 were in great form, with full marks for strength, blend and top soprano intonation.
A highlight was the ardour and detail accorded the big chorus numbers, such as <i>And the Glory</i>, <i>Lift Up Your Head</i>, and of course the famous <i>Hallelujah</i> with its soaring triumphant climaxes.
Burchell drew excellent dynamic contrast for sections of <i>Since by Man Came Death</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The baroque orchestra responded to paces set, fusing tight string blends with stylistic embellishment and exciting crescendi. Trumpet highlights were strong and true. </div><div><br /></div><div>Soloists advanced the plot with precision and sincerity. Whelan’s big resonating bass achieved clarity of text, especially in <i>The Trumpet Shall Sound</i> with an impressive decorated final cadence.
Barton filled <i>He Was Despised</i> with appropriate sentiment, and Johnston (who at 24 hours’ notice replaced an indisposed soprano) was never tentative, although I felt she was a little lightweight, but her famous aria <i>I Know That My Redeemer Liveth</i> was superb. </div><div><br /></div><div>The final <i>Amens</i> were followed by long applause and standing ovation. A magnificent performance.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Review by Elizabeth Bouman, Otago Daily Times, 9 December 2021</i></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-21188807493301862842021-06-09T15:52:00.001+12:002021-06-09T16:49:18.953+12:00The Life and Times of a Choral Society<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoGQNxweZD1yw7vTA_KTcc-MMIo4g4160lwdoTpx99dnv9EnT23whyphenhyphenrULx3pzjcr4wWsOJhhpyTb1oCSavB59dTWg-wiiYD5Mn6-Z2cCP6O7NR8QPnfLhNUWyCOL4OK4BrAjXeQy7qtFD/s1600/HistoryBookCover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="847" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoGQNxweZD1yw7vTA_KTcc-MMIo4g4160lwdoTpx99dnv9EnT23whyphenhyphenrULx3pzjcr4wWsOJhhpyTb1oCSavB59dTWg-wiiYD5Mn6-Z2cCP6O7NR8QPnfLhNUWyCOL4OK4BrAjXeQy7qtFD/w281-h400/HistoryBookCover.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've had a Passion for singing for over 155 years!</span><br />
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But for the first 71 years, Bach's music was never sung. It wasn't until 1961, 98 years after the first Dunedin <i>Messiah</i>, that the Dunedin Choral Society performed the <i>St Matthew Passion</i> for the first time, under the direction of Professor Peter Platt.<br />
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Intrigued?</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Life and Times of a Choral Society</span></i></b><br />
Now available! Price <b>$45.00</b> (plus $7.00 postage & packaging for mail orders)<br />
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<b>The book is available from City Choir Dunedin. To place an order email <a href="mailto:info@citychoirdunedin.org.nz">info@citychoirdunedin.org.nz</a> or use the contact form at the bottom of the page. </b>Pay by direct credit (internet banking) to the choir's account 03-0903-0383102-00 with your phone number and HISTORY in the reference fields.<br />
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Dunedin’s City Choir and its predecessors have been performing since Christmas Eve 1863, when selections from <i>Messiah</i> were presented to Dunedin by the newly-formed Philharmonic Society. Like every other New Zealand choral society its career has been a chequered one, but if it has not always been glorious, it is certainly a heroic tale of vision and determination to survive and flourish.<br />
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This definitive history, based on extensive archival research, removes the accretions of myth from the story of the Choir’s first 150 years, setting its activities in the context of the social and artistic fabric of the developing city and country.</div>
Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-89089939116225725262021-06-02T20:08:00.002+12:002021-06-02T20:08:40.374+12:00An interesting and well-designed affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxEfCm_pvmU/YLc8NFd5X_I/AAAAAAAAEo0/1PcWQASKZp0aHPVGTXhy6A8BgiZ0wDL8ACNcBGAsYHQ/s890/soloists-cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="890" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxEfCm_pvmU/YLc8NFd5X_I/AAAAAAAAEo0/1PcWQASKZp0aHPVGTXhy6A8BgiZ0wDL8ACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/soloists-cropped.jpg" /></a></div><p><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span><font size="5">Applaud! Women in Music</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p>
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Saturday 29 May 7:30 pm, Knox Church</h3>
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City Choir Dunedin’s latest concert, “Applaud! Women in Music” was an interesting and well- designed affair. The considerable use of soloists Olivia Pike (soprano), Tessa Romano (mezzo- soprano), and Benjamin Madden (tenor) was a smart choice and allowed the choir to focus on refining a smaller percentage of the overall programme.</p>
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Martines’ <i>Laudate Pueri Dominum</i>, conducted by Mark Anderson, featured all three soloists and after a rousing intro from David Burchell (organ), the choir we’re away and swiftly followed by Pike and Romano’s first accomplished flourishes of the evening. The trio sang well as an ensemble during <i>Nell’ odo rifero chiaro oriente</i> and their physical and harmonic interactions seemed a natural extension of the text. This continued into Pike and Romano’s <i>Certe alme misere</i> and was my highlight of the work, with other special mentions to Madden’s vocal acrobatics in <i>Qual alto principe</i> and the choir’s negotiation of the tricky fugue, <i>Di tutti popoli</i>.</p>
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The duo of Pike and Romano impressed again with Strozzi’s <i>Mi ferte, oh Begli occhi,</i> also accompanied by Burchell on organ. I have a soft spot for Strozzi and found this rendition to be suitably vocally and physically dramatic as to reflect the typically over-the-top, “I’ll die if you don’t love me” prose of the era. And then we reached the Britten. Notwithstanding Burchell’s justification, I am still not completely convinced of the inclusion of his <i>Hymn to St. Cecilia</i> in a programme so focussed on female composition. However, I understand the underpinning theme of Cecilia being the patron saint of music. I was pleasantly surprised by how successfully the choir negotiated Britten’s harmonic writing – theoretically, it should have been more difficult but they were much more settled than in the Martines. Unfortunately, much of the English text was lost, with perhaps this setting being more suitable for a smaller ensemble. Solos from within the choir were delivered with confidence, notably from Sophie Gangl. Madden again stepped up to the plate and was appropriately fanfare-like, providing the classic tenor/trumpet comparison in the best possible way.</p>
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This was followed by a bracket of African-American composers Florence Price and Betty Jackson King – Romano’s time to shine and shine she did. I particularly enjoyed Price’s <i>An April Day</i> but all three songs were delivered with charisma. Word-painting is a talent and one which Romano possesses in abundance. To close the first half, Pike was welcomed back to join the sopranos and altos of the choir for Chaminade’s <i>Ronde du Crépuscule,</i> with Sandra Crawshaw accompanying. Pike soared above the chorus as they spun tales of enchanted fairy worlds in murmuring utterances.</p>
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After a brief interval, the choir returned with Tamsin Jones’ <i>Von Herzen</i>, a setting of the preface Beethoven used for his <i>Missa Solemnis</i>. Antiphonal phrasing allowed the choir to enjoy the interplay between voice parts. Continuing the Germanic theme, Pike’s bracket consisted of a Lang lied, <i>Den Abschied schnell genommen</i>, which had excellent diction and energy, and Beach’s <i>I send my heart up to thee</i>. This allowed a showcase of legato and phrasing, with lovely bloom into the upper register from Pike.</p>
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A selection of seven of fourteen poems from Felicia Edgecombe’s <i>Shaky Places</i> showed a variety of genres for the choir and also provided them with a chance to explore New Zealand experiences in musical settings. The most successful movements were <i>Once in a while</i>, where the choir demonstrated a more delicate touch; <i>Twelve moon lines</i>, which Romano led through strong blues inspiration, allowing the choir to begin to leave their classical comfort zone; and <i>Erebus</i>, a beautiful portrayal of what is obviously highly sensitive subject matter and quite potentially the most moving piece of the evening. Febriani Idrus (flute) and Sophie Hamer (cello) excelled in <i>Erebus </i>and their addition was transformative. To close, a strong performance of Rosephanye Powell’s <i>The Word was God,</i> and did they perhaps save their best-executed piece for last?
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It is not every day that one gets to attend an almost entirely female-composed programme – and this was a welcomed change. In some of my previous remarks, I have specifically mentioned diversity in programming and how this needs to be stretched further. If this concert is the result, then I will continue to make noise because this is a very good start. City Choir Dunedin also proved themselves perfectly capable of handling and delivering contemporary and twentieth-century works that, in the past, may have been put in the “not our cup of tea” basket. Overall, a very pleasing concert and I look forward to seeing what boundaries are pushed next!
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Review by Courtney Hickmott, </i>The Wave, <i>1 June 2021.
</i></p>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-50036841875786435592021-05-31T14:40:00.005+12:002021-06-02T20:11:41.989+12:00Women soloists deliver intricate harmonies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zAfzgjVMu9MlktDDPGBFTJof0Swm7nDC3tMtdxlN4SB2WMaJp9THrxS9A7POU7EPHXXEmrCVCUAN1U1WAeoSL1XcdpsS7ub5bRnA9B8Xeq0Y-gNmUMSNTxezPfNmdJ7xuM3pcZ1LkGAF/s890/women-soloists-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zAfzgjVMu9MlktDDPGBFTJof0Swm7nDC3tMtdxlN4SB2WMaJp9THrxS9A7POU7EPHXXEmrCVCUAN1U1WAeoSL1XcdpsS7ub5bRnA9B8Xeq0Y-gNmUMSNTxezPfNmdJ7xuM3pcZ1LkGAF/s16000/women-soloists-cropped.jpg" /></a></div><p><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span><font size="5">Applaud! Women in Music</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p>
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Saturday 29 May 7:30 pm, Knox Church</h3><p style="text-align: justify;">
A near-capacity audience in a comfortably warm Knox Church heard a programme devised by conductor and accompanist, David Burchell.</p>
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He was assisted in the long overdue recognition of some remarkable talent by the City Dunedin Choir, guest conductor Mark Anderson, and pianist Sandra Crawshaw and guest soloists Olivia Pike, soprano, Tessa Romano, mezzo, and tenor Benjamin Madden, to celebrate female composers and artists.</p>
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The notable exception to Burchell’s mission was Britten’s <i>Hymn to St Cecilia</i>, set to W.H. Auden’s poem, which asks its heroine to “wear her [marital] tribulations like a rose”, valorising the ‘‘virtue’’ of being long-suffering.</p>
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Nonetheless, it is an excellent and challenging piece of <i>a cappella</i> music that delves gently into modal idioms. The choir and its soloists performed it exceptionally well despite a somewhat inconstant flow of confidence.</p>
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Romano and Pike gave a powerful performance of Barbara Strozzi’s <i>Mi ferrite, oh Begli occhi</i>. They lent the work’s intricate harmonies an astonishing beauty.</p>
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Cecile Chaminade’s <i>Ronde du Crepuscule</i> and Amy Beach’s <i>I send my heart up to thee</i> highlighted Olivia Pike’s strength in high, clear held tones which soared to magnificent effect over the choir in the former and over the piano in the latter.</p>
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A selection from Felicia Edgecombe’s <i>Shaky Places,</i> which sets the works of (predominantly) male New Zealand poets, followed. Some worked — others didn’t. Sam Hunt’s bluesy <i>Twelve Moon Lines</i>, Bill Manhire’s atmospheric <i>Erebus</i> and Brian Turner’s awed <i>Once in a While</i> stood out for the way in which the music enhanced the words. Jeffrey Paparoa Holman’s <i>After the Tremor</i> had some beautiful moments while Lauris Edmond’s <i>Tuatara</i> undermined the poem’s allusion to the creature’s stoic profile.</p>
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Rosephanye Powell’s uplifting gospel <i>The Word was God</i> was performed with wonderful attention to its infectious rhythmic pulse.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Review by Marion Poole, Otago Daily Times, 31 May 2021.</i></p>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-54196112811470663102021-01-01T14:36:00.003+13:002022-11-06T14:52:40.459+13:002021 Concert Season <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHUuN1X0qO8/X_0Dm_Oi1dI/AAAAAAAAEgY/kQI-lhsWDSsds8iaTqOgwz4fCIlhhlYrACNcBGAsYHQ/s1920/DSO-Celebrating2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHUuN1X0qO8/X_0Dm_Oi1dI/AAAAAAAAEgY/kQI-lhsWDSsds8iaTqOgwz4fCIlhhlYrACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/DSO-Celebrating2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span><font size="5">Celebrating 2021!</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span>
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Saturday 20 February 7:30 pm<br />Dunedin Town Hall</h3>
KENNETH YOUNG, conductor</div><div>DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This concert, presented by the DSO, will feature two of New Zealand’s acclaimed opera superstars, Simon O’Neill and Anna Leese, in a programme of highlights from: Bizet’s ‘Carmen’, Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’, Mozart’s ‘Idomeneo’ and Verdi’s ‘Otello’. Simon O’Neill and Anna Leese will be joined by soprano Rhiannon Cooper from the University of Otago, <b>City Choir Dunedin</b>, and leading New Zealand conductor Kenneth Young.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1Aui7iDfzI/YM16ItI6-oI/AAAAAAAAErM/OekVInnzGZA1yY1Nxc-qG2hgaRFmj_-sQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1170/BeethovenBigBash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1Aui7iDfzI/YM16ItI6-oI/AAAAAAAAErM/OekVInnzGZA1yY1Nxc-qG2hgaRFmj_-sQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h276/BeethovenBigBash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><span><font size="5">Beethoven's Big Bash</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span><h3 style="text-align: left;">Wednesday 14 April 7:00 pm<br />Dunedin Town Hall</h3></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hear a feast of Beethoven’s most popular music performed by Dunedin’s talented musicians. A highlight will be Beethoven’s famous ‘Ode to Joy’ as you have never heard it before! The DSO will be joined by musicians and choir singers of all ages and skills levels who love Beethoven and keen to be part of our glorious community play-in concert – Beethoven’s Big Bash. For this special event, community and student instrumentalists and singers will work together with their DSO and <b>City Choir Dunedin</b> counterparts to create a mass community orchestra and choir performing selected extracts from the final movement of Beethoven’s <i>Ninth Symphony</i>. These extracts have been specially arranged for players of different skill levels so that everyone can join in. Presented in collaboration with Dunedin Arts Festival.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span><font size="5">Applaud! Women in Music</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span><br />
<h3>
Saturday 29 May 7:30 pm<br />Knox Church</h3>
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor</div><div>SOLOISTS: Olivia Pike (soprano), Tessa Romano (mezzo-soprano), Benjamin Madden (tenor)</div><div>PIANIST: Sandra Crawshaw<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">City Choir Dunedin celebrates the contribution to music made by women, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. The programme includes Benjamin Britten’s <i>Hymn to St Cecilia</i>, the patron saint of music. Works by women composers range from the Romantic era – Marianna Martines – to contemporary songs by Rosephanye Powell and New Zealand’s own Felicia Edgecombe. Mrs Edgecombe’s song cycle <i>Shaky Places</i> was first performed in 2015, to wide appeal. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcaTTH42qUXAjgaJsfKfKushy9Xj0HPnP_nqfhpHYURbu1WS5AucDnUHtEjY-Wix5px-T_u6jw7iNzPVBnkECZvRSo383zyAKRYN6RAcRyeCg_C03rTZcGzGKHHlbLZ98H3npYWPJmmcg/s1170/DSO-OdeToJoy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcaTTH42qUXAjgaJsfKfKushy9Xj0HPnP_nqfhpHYURbu1WS5AucDnUHtEjY-Wix5px-T_u6jw7iNzPVBnkECZvRSo383zyAKRYN6RAcRyeCg_C03rTZcGzGKHHlbLZ98H3npYWPJmmcg/w640-h276/DSO-OdeToJoy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><span><font size="5">Ode to Joy</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Saturday 12 June 7:30 pm<br />Dunedin Town Hall</h3></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: white; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #383a3b; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2rem; text-align: justify;">Regarded as one of the supreme achievements in the history of Western music, Beethoven’s Ninth is one of the most performed symphonies around the world. Based on Schiller’s poem ‘Ode to Joy’, it finishes with a celebration of the unity and dignity of human kind, a theme as relevant today as it was in 1824 when Beethoven wrote the symphony. Marshalling the musicians will be conductor Kenneth Young who is one of New Zealand’s leading conductors and also the University of Otago’s 2021 Mozart Fellow. Dunedin audiences have the rare opportunity to hear New Zealanders, Simon O’Neill and Jonathan Lemalu, both of whom have prestigious international careers. Joining them for the special occasion are soprano Amanda Atlas and mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, two of NZ’s rising stars joined by <b>City Choir Dunedin</b>.</p></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><font size="5"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoIERfOvt99s2xvHY7EC_oS3cFqCEP0Z9_2CT67B48mp_0cQDLwNDEEKnYXKLJq5_0F3KYQwvta8f-WLJUtAd5P7OmbHdP0ygZ5kzWOFJt3sP_AS_Geq_mVE43zaLIOGQWeUTw79lU138/s2438/2021-10Rossini-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2438" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoIERfOvt99s2xvHY7EC_oS3cFqCEP0Z9_2CT67B48mp_0cQDLwNDEEKnYXKLJq5_0F3KYQwvta8f-WLJUtAd5P7OmbHdP0ygZ5kzWOFJt3sP_AS_Geq_mVE43zaLIOGQWeUTw79lU138/w640-h276/2021-10Rossini-Eventfinda1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">Rossini<i> Petite Messe Solennelle </i></font></b></div></font></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Saturday 2 October 7:30 pm</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Knox Church</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS THIS CONCERT WAS POSTPONED UNTIL 2022.</b></div></h3><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RucPYDm7d8/YPJECt140tI/AAAAAAAAEs0/sm1gKs6zNEAuZyemVbAtUIzPIy2b2-S6ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2702/2021Messiah-Eventfinda1170x504.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2702" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RucPYDm7d8/YPJECt140tI/AAAAAAAAEs0/sm1gKs6zNEAuZyemVbAtUIzPIy2b2-S6ACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h276/2021Messiah-Eventfinda1170x504.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><font size="5">Handel's<i> Messiah </i></font></b></div>
<h3><div style="text-align: justify;">Tuesday 7 December 7:30 pm</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dunedin Town Hall</div></h3><div style="text-align: justify;">DAVID BURCHELL, conductor</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">SOLOISTS: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lois Johnston</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;"> (soprano), </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Claire Barton</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;"> (alto), </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Oliver Sewell</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;"> (tenor), and </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Paul Whelan</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;"> (bass)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Handel’s <i>Messiah</i> is heard around the world during the Christmas season, being greatly appreciated, admired and enjoyed. City Choir Dunedin with soloists and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Burchell, are pleased to again perform this dramatic and passionate work. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGQZG30968pbmcTzx62CvfQQNFkBdX6-4xjXGKVAincAbejmyelwcX_cy-fMnn-sbEnWN6V5mBHWzV4ifxX2wpNfNLmfDktatDSVAXHGCbwBJAttMZgfwSysGaKMgmipn3Ar9d0NCibM/s1170/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGQZG30968pbmcTzx62CvfQQNFkBdX6-4xjXGKVAincAbejmyelwcX_cy-fMnn-sbEnWN6V5mBHWzV4ifxX2wpNfNLmfDktatDSVAXHGCbwBJAttMZgfwSysGaKMgmipn3Ar9d0NCibM/w640-h276/CarolsAtOM1170x504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span><font size="5">Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum</font></span></span></b></div>
<h3><div style="text-align: justify;">Sunday 19 December 2:00 pm</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Otago Museum</div></h3><div style="text-align: justify;">DAVID BURCHELL, conductor</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MARK ANDERSON, assistant conductor</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">City Choir Dunedin presents an hour-long programme of Christmas music for the festive season. Come along to this free performance (koha appreciated) and be touched by the spirit of Christmas at this time of joy and reflection. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Accompanists: Roland Storm and David Burchell</div></div>
</div></div></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-39462471562683672012020-12-07T16:58:00.001+13:002020-12-18T17:13:55.526+13:00Outstanding programme to celebrate Christmas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGLzHgY0Elc/X9wqUumXy9I/AAAAAAAAEdY/SpJwmDXXHFcAaADn_yDjT5uhxMPyukRqACNcBGAsYHQ/s1620/127146178_10159385542269048_8498241596752391437_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGLzHgY0Elc/X9wqUumXy9I/AAAAAAAAEdY/SpJwmDXXHFcAaADn_yDjT5uhxMPyukRqACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/127146178_10159385542269048_8498241596752391437_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Photo by Ian Thomson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Rejoice! Music for Christmas</b><div><b>Saturday 28 November 2020, Dunedin Town Hall</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last Saturday evening City Choir Dunedin, supported by the Dunedin Symphony
Orchestra presented an outstanding programme to celebrate the Christmas season.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The concert opened with Charpentier’s <i>Messe de Minuit</i>. The mass, which featured
soloists Lois Johnston (soprano), Caroline Burchell (soprano), Claire Barton (alto),
Andrew Grenon (tenor), and James Harrison (bass), offered an opportunity for the choir
to display their skill at performing challenging, less well known repertoire. The work
features beautiful and interesting harmonic moments, which the choir handled
admirably, although a degree of uncertainty or perhaps lack of commitment (in
comparison to that displayed later in the programme) meant that the magic was at
times lost, leaving the piece to feel a little long.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Britten’s <i>A Ceremony of Carols</i> the skills of the upper voices of the choir were
showcased, supported by the phenomenal talent of Christchurch-based harpist Helen
Webby. Featuring soprano soloists Burchell and Johnston, this performance had some
extraordinary moments. Johnston’s performance in <i>That Yongë Child</i> was so hauntingly
beautiful, you could have heard a pin drop in the audience, while Burchell’s rendition of
<i>Balulalow</i>, supported by the women’s chorus, was truly exquisite. Webby, accompanying
the choir and soloists throughout, plays with fantastic skill and musicality, with her
<i>Interlude</i> being one of my personal favourite moments of the concert. This challenging
work displayed the choir’s skill in handling complex polyphony, although at times the
diction left a bit to be desired. On the whole, however, it was a great performance of a
Christmas classic.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bach’s <i>Magnificat</i> brought with it a significant step up in the choir’s energy level.
Conducted by David Burchell from the harpsichord, this piece brought the choir,
orchestra, and all five soloists back together for the second half of the concert. This
monumental work showed the full range of the choir’s strengths, in which they gave
great dedication and spirit to the music throughout. All five soloists were absolutely
thrilling, with Claire Barton in particular giving a standout performance. A fantastic
evening! It sounds like City Choir has a great programme lined up for 2021, so keep an eye
out for future concerts!</div><br /><i>
Review by Ihlara McIndoe for The Wave, 7 December 2020.</i></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-50493537525648641772020-11-30T17:02:00.057+13:002022-11-02T16:23:23.124+13:00Seasonal celebration from City Choir<p><b style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtdzTST_7ee1lKmWOosRTrK3MXnD1Rz5L9bGeDOQj6MM-JyMTsUXrMesLq-d2SZAsb8DmreiYyfcu223zUzbfh9LonTRs6-KNXJt8eDLju1Q_uOngIkOu5aOeWNb55UOfsiS6kWVVVy5I/s630/CCD-Rejoice-ODT-PeterMcIntosh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="City Choir Dunedin sings Rejoice! Photo: Peter McIntosh (ODT)." border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="630" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtdzTST_7ee1lKmWOosRTrK3MXnD1Rz5L9bGeDOQj6MM-JyMTsUXrMesLq-d2SZAsb8DmreiYyfcu223zUzbfh9LonTRs6-KNXJt8eDLju1Q_uOngIkOu5aOeWNb55UOfsiS6kWVVVy5I/w640-h520/CCD-Rejoice-ODT-PeterMcIntosh.jpg" title="City Choir Dunedin sings Rejoice! Photo: Peter McIntosh (ODT)." width="640" /></a></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">
Rejoice! Music for Christmas </span></b><div><b>Saturday 28 November 2020, Dunedin Town Hall</b> <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">A large audience and nearly 100 City Choir Dunedin singers
accompanied by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David
Burchell, filled Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday evening for a
celebration of Christmas classical repertoire entitled <i>Rejoice!</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The programme had more variety than their regular biannual
seasonal performances of Handel’s <i>Messiah</i> and opened with a
lesser known <i>Messe de Minuit pour Noel</i> cc.1694 by Charpentier. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Joyful, dance-like and more musically secular than masses of the
time, this was a challenging work for all, and despite strongly
accented orchestral backing, the choir’s big choral entries generally
lacked definition and accented articulation, especially at first entries
such as in the <i>Gloria</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tempo and intonation were good, and the final <i>Amen</i> of the
<i>Credo</i> section was an exciting highlight. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soloists Lois Johnston and Caroline Burchell (sopranos), Claire Barton (alto), Andrew Grenon (tenor)
and James Harrison (bass) delivered some well balanced segments, though at times the Baroque-sized
orchestra tended to dominate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Popular <i>A Ceremony of Carols</i> (1942), written by Benjamin Britten for treble voices and harps,
comprises 11 short 15th and 16th century texts, in contrasting settings of bright, happy Christmas music.
Excellent pace and dynamic palette captured the bell-like spirit of <i>Wolcum Yole!</i> and <i>Deo Gracias</i>, and
effective strong unison highlighted <i>Hodie Christus est</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harpist Helen Webby (Christchurch) excelled in providing clear emotional accompaniment throughout
for the 60 choir ladies and soprano soloists Johnson and Burchell. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Burchell conducted J.S. Bach’s <i>Magnificat BWV 243.1 </i>(1723) from the harpsichord, setting good pace,
with three trumpeters and some excellent woodwind passages highlighting throughout. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A very dramatic performance overall, but again with such a big choir, the massive melismatic passages
such as in <i>Freut euch und jubiliert</i> and <i>Gloria Patri </i>often lacked accent and cohesion. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, this was an exciting evening of exhilarating music for patrons and performers alike, a
privileged event for Dunedin in this troubled Covid year.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Reviewed by Elizabeth Bouman for the Otago Daily Times, 30 November 2020.</i></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-74487298908721366072020-08-02T21:25:00.007+12:002020-08-02T21:31:54.910+12:00Sung and Played from the Heart<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLRyDVkLQek/XyaGRNrv4VI/AAAAAAAAETI/B7q4oBz2exAPL_aFMvnNQ6ELVssp1aOJwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1855/117159621_10159036487884048_937102236567478837_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1855" height="326" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLRyDVkLQek/XyaGRNrv4VI/AAAAAAAAETI/B7q4oBz2exAPL_aFMvnNQ6ELVssp1aOJwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h326/117159621_10159036487884048_937102236567478837_o.jpg" title="Songs for Humanity, 1 August 2020, Knox Church. Photo: Ian Thomson" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><font face="inherit"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The title, the timing and the content of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Songs for Humanity</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (Knox Church, 1 August 2020) by City Choir Dunedin were all spot-on – so much so that one could hardly believe they were chosen (as conductor David Burchell pointed out in his preamble) </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">before</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the world-wide spread of Covid-19. What could be more appropriate in the midst of so many people’s trials and tribulations than to use music’s power as a balm and salve during this devastating pandemic, and to dedicate the performance of the main work – Fauré’s </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Requiem</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> – to those “who have died and will yet die” from it?</span></div><o:p></o:p></font><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><font face="inherit">Three shorter pieces of accessible music by living composers made up the programme’s first half. In Norwegian-born Ola Gjeilo’s <i>Song of the Universal</i>, ably sung by all the women’s voices supported by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s strings (concertmaster: Tessa Petersen) and pianist Sandra Crawshaw, alternating slow and fast sections brought out the ecstatic, aspirational quality of Walt Whitman’s poem. By contrast, in New Zealander Christopher Marshall’s more complex <i>Pastorale</i> – a setting of Psalm 23 for soprano solo and men’s voices with specially arranged accompaniment of strings, organ (David Burchell) and percussion – the prevailing mood was consolatory, albeit punctuated by dramatic outbursts which tested both the choir and the soloist (soprano Caroline Burchell) to the utmost, as well as assistant conductor Mark Anderson on the podium. Then came Latvian Pēteris Vasks’ <i>Dona nobis pacem</i> for four-part choir, strings and organ (Johnny Mottershead) – a highly effective final item, where the mostly slow-moving music’s austere diatonic language provided a series of cumulative build-ups of tension and excitement before the peaceful ending, and where conductor Burchell – now back on the podium – achieved an excellent choral blend throughout.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><font face="inherit">In his hands, too, the concert’s main work, Fauré’s <i>Requiem</i>, received a most sensitive and stylish interpretation. The crystalline radiance of soprano Caroline Burchell in the <i>Pie Jesu</i> and the darker, more anguished tones of baritone Scott Bezett in the <i>Offertorium </i>and the <i>Libera me</i> were particularly noteworthy, and the choir coped well with the subtleties of the composer’s chromatically-enhanced harmonic language. The orchestra’s lower strings (Fauré wanted no violins except for a violin solo in the <i>Sanctus</i>) combined with organ, horns and harp to give unfailingly appropriate support to the choir’s flowing lines, with well-judged dramatic irruptions by the horns for ‘Hosanna’<i> </i>in the <i>Sanctus</i> and the ‘Dies Irae’ section of the <i>Libera me</i>,<i> </i>and delicious arpeggios on the organ for the <i>In Paradisum</i>.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><font face="inherit">Beethoven inscribed on the manuscript of his <i>Missa solemnis</i> these words: “From the heart – may it go back – to the heart.” The capacity audience’s response to all the items in this concert showed how deeply they felt that every musician who sang or played in this moving and memorable event did so wholeheartedly, thereby making a worthy contribution to the maintenance of true human values in a world that sorely needs them.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i><font face="inherit"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Review by Donald Cullington, </span><span>2 August 2020</span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i><font face="inherit"><span>Photo: Ian Thomson</span></font></i></p>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-41466588548534708472020-08-01T11:46:00.002+12:002022-11-02T16:21:42.299+13:00Messages of peace, hope and comfort<h3 style="text-align: left;"><font color="#990000"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhbbSnvdcas/XytGBVVuxjI/AAAAAAAAETw/2cj02DtVSfMPUkGEDfdCq_rQMvrygi6eQCNcBGAsYHQ/s661/songs_for_humanity_2_010820.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="David Burchell conducts the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and City Choir Dunedin in the Songs for Humanity concert at Knox Church on Saturday night. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="496" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhbbSnvdcas/XytGBVVuxjI/AAAAAAAAETw/2cj02DtVSfMPUkGEDfdCq_rQMvrygi6eQCNcBGAsYHQ/w384-h512/songs_for_humanity_2_010820.jpg" title="David Burchell conducts the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and City Choir Dunedin in the Songs for Humanity concert at Knox Church on Saturday night. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH" width="384" /></a></div><font size="5">Songs for Humanity</font></font><font size="5"> </font><br />City Choir Dunedin<br />Knox Church, 1 August 2020 </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">City Choir Dunedin with Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (conducted by David Burchell) gave an early evening concert last Saturday entitled Songs for Humanity.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Patrons filled Knox Church to capacity for the programme of repertoire, highlighted with very relevant messages of hope, comfort and peace, missives that were surprisingly chosen before the onset of Covid-19. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The main work, <i>Requiem</i>, by Gabriel Faure, was dedicated to the thousands of people who have died, and those yet to perish from the coronavirus pandemic. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The concert began with <i>Song of the Universal</i> (2012), by Ola Gjeilo, for women’s voices, strings and piano (Sandra Crawshaw) which opened with an effective string and vocal humming soundscape. Textural variety and more animated lyrical passages were generally satisfactorily achieved. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">New Zealander composer Christopher Marshall, currently working in Florida, had reset the orchestral score of <i>Pastorale</i> (1997) to suit Dunedin’s strings, organ, vibraphone and glockenspiel.
The work is a setting of <i>Psalm 23</i> for men’s voices and soprano soloist (Caroline Burchell).
Not an easy work to conquer and I felt the choir lacked definition, despite impressive shading and dynamics. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Dona nobis pacem</i> - Grant Us Peace (1996), by Latvian composer Peterisk Vasks, achieved strong choral tone with attention to dynamic highlighting, traversing textured chant-like three-word melodic statements with climactically enriched tension, culminating with a final state of serenity and hope. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Faure’s <i>Requiem</i> described as a lullaby of death and happy deliverance, was progressing well until the organ ‘‘ciphered’’ and an unwanted, unrelenting, continuing bass pipe intervened.
After a few minutes for adjustments and presumably future avoidance of the offending note, the performance resumed with the famous <i>Pie Jesu</i> (soprano Caroline Burchell). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Baritone soloist Scott Bezett demonstrated baritone strength with confident, intelligent delivery, and the chamber-sized orchestra with Johnny Mottershead (organ) and Helen Webby (harp) was an ideal balance for this work, which ended with an emotive elongated final chord, before an outburst of applause and cries of ‘‘Bravo’’ from the elated audience.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Reviewed by Elizabeth Bouman for the Otago Daily Times, Monday 3 August 2020.</i></div>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-45304847721725334242020-01-01T11:54:00.003+13:002021-01-05T11:57:00.854+13:002020 Concert Season <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQi6CI3RKukPTXc1XGMAGE520pXUDu00WRmYPQ_9pLVdKYALsHHNHpgLjeDuK8i6L_Lqcff_RekNkgaiTjfGzk-2f2XgHmcPRNWAO0WJVmQai2PcLVySXgSlxImJ3rYSfE-kpn5N5wU0N/s1600/WebsiteConcerts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1170" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQi6CI3RKukPTXc1XGMAGE520pXUDu00WRmYPQ_9pLVdKYALsHHNHpgLjeDuK8i6L_Lqcff_RekNkgaiTjfGzk-2f2XgHmcPRNWAO0WJVmQai2PcLVySXgSlxImJ3rYSfE-kpn5N5wU0N/s640/WebsiteConcerts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i><span><font size="5">Songs for Humanity</font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></span><br />
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Saturday 1 August 5:30 pm<br />Knox Church</h3>
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor<br />
SOLOISTS: Caroline Burchell (soprano), Scott Bezett (baritone)<br />
DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA<br />
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City Choir Dunedin presents a programme of choral music to celebrate peace. Whether it's peace of mind or universal peace you're after, it begins here with the ever-popular Faure <em>Requiem</em> and contemporary works by Peteris Vasks: <em>Dona nobis pacem</em>, Ola Gjeilo: <em>Song of the Universal</em>, and Christopher Marshall: <em>Pastorale</em>. "Peace is liberty in tranquility" said Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), one of Rome's greatest philosophers.<div>
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<b style="color: #cc0000;"><i><font size="5">Rejoice! Music for Christmas </font></i></b><br />
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Saturday 28 November 7:30 pm<br />Dunedin Town Hall</h3>
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor<br />SOLOISTS: Lois Johnston (soprano), Caroline Burchell (soprano), Claire Barton (alto), Andrew Grenon (tenor), James Harrison (bass)<br />DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with Helen Webby (harp), Johnny Mottershead (organ)<br />
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City Choir Dunedin presents a programme of choral music for the Christmas season. The programme includes Bach's <em>Magnificat</em>, Benjamin Britten's <em>A Ceremony of Carols</em>, and Charpentier's <i>Messe de Minuit</i>. City Choir is delighted that the DSO will once again provide the accompaniment.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span><font size="5">Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum</font></span></span></b><br />
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Sunday 20 December 2:00 pm<br />Otago Museum</h3>
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor<br />
MARK ANDERSON, assistant conductor<br />
CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN<br />
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City Choir Dunedin presents an hour-long programme of Christmas music at the Otago Museum. <br />
Accompanists: Roland Storm and David Burchell</div>
Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-66915089895874775062019-12-12T14:22:00.000+13:002019-12-12T14:22:39.654+13:00Inspired and uplifting performance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Handel's Messiah</b></span><br />
<b>Tuesday 10 December 2019, Dunedin Town Hall</b><br />
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Handel's evergreen oratorio Messiah was given an inspired and uplifting performance in Dunedin Town Hall on Tuesday by City Choir Dunedin, four guest soloists, and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra -- all under David Burchell's unerring baton.<br />
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This work, composed in 1741, comprises a mammoth meditation on the Christian message, with dramatic interludes. Its many contrasts of texture, dynamics and scoring demand great sensitivity and flexibility from all those on stage, but smooth follow-throughs -- obviously resulting from much careful rehearsal -- always ensured a real sense of continuity and held the large audience's attention.<br />
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Soloists Rebecca Ryan (soprano), Tessa Romano (alto), Andrew Grenon (tenor) and Joel Amosa (bass) all gave sterling performances in their different ways, though Romano's dulcet tones often failed to carry in the large hall.<br />
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Especially impressive were Grenon's expressive ornaments in 'Comfort ye', Ryan's bright delivery of 'Rejoice greatly', and Amosa's stentorian 'The trumpet shall sound' coupled with Ralph Miller's silvery trumpet obbligato.<br />
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But it was the choir's part in this great work that brought it most to life for the audience -- they even burst into applause after the 'Hallelujah' chorus! If aggressiveness was needed (in 'He trusted in God'), the choir gave it; if florid counterpoint (in 'His yoke was easy' -- ironically, one of the hardest choruses to sing) was called for, they produced it. Best of all were three choruses sung from memory -- 'Glory to God', 'Lift up your heads' and 'Since by man came death'.<br />
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The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, led by Miranda Adams, added greatly to the performance's strength and seamlessness, with Burchell's well-chosen tempos for the set-pieces always firmly established.<br />
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And the continuo group -- cellist David Murray and organist Johnny Mottershead, with Burchell on harpsichord -- were always at the ready for the recitatives.<br />
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Not just a pre-Christmas treat, then, but a true treasure!<br />
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<i>Reviewed by Donald Cullington, The Star, 12 December 2019.</i></div>
Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514893597122710441.post-54198297791276082932019-12-12T12:03:00.000+13:002019-12-12T12:03:03.547+13:00Pre-Christmas tradition at town hall - hallelujah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Handel's Messiah</b></span><br />
<b>Tuesday 10 December 2019, Dunedin Town Hall</b><br />
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On Tuesday evening, the Dunedin Town Hall resounded with music of one of the best-known oratorios. <i>Messiah</i> by George Frederik Handel.</div>
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In recent years <i>Messiah</i> has become a two-yearly Dunedin pre-Christmas event, performed by the Dunedin City Choir and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.</div>
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The three-hour performance seems to have retained its popularity -- this year's good-sized supporting audience reacted with standing ovation, prolonged applause and "Bravos".</div>
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David Burchell conducted from the harpsichord, producing a brilliant overall performance. The choir of 120 achieved excellent standards in their big choruses, two of which ('Lift up your heads' and 'Since by man came death') were memorised, and exceptional balance and beauty of tone were achieved in 'And with his stripes we are healed'.</div>
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The tenors excelled in some of their scalic runs, and soprano top register notes were strong and true.</div>
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Following the overture, tenor Andrew Grenon opened Part One, achieving relaxed but strong and convincing recitativo with fluency in 'Comfort ye'.</div>
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Soprano soloist Rebecca Ryan generated a big, beautiful sound and delivered with melismatic precision and stunning ornamentation. A highlight was her 'I know that my redeemer liveth'. </div>
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Tessa Romano was considerably "under-weight" in her alto solos despite fine melodic decoration and clarity of text.</div>
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However, a strong, authoritative style came from bass Joel Amosa, with well-paced scalic shaping and embellishments, not always easy for a bass voice, and I'm sure he wished Handel had not chosen a high E to climax 'The trumpet shall sound'.</div>
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The orchestra (led by Miranda Adams) was impressive, especially with string co-ordination of Baroque embellishments, and two trumpet players gilded everything superbly.</div>
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I followed the music on my well-worn 19th century family score, alongside a senior singing pupil who was enthralled by her first <i>Messiah</i> experience.</div>
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<i>Review by Elizabeth Bouman, Otago Daily Times 12 December 2019.</i>Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12672417902698125104noreply@blogger.com0