Concerts

The 2021 Concert Season 

Celebrating 2021! 

Saturday 20 February 7:30 pm
Dunedin Town Hall

KENNETH YOUNG, conductor

DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

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, City Choir Dunedin, and leading New Zealand conductor Kenneth Young.

Beethoven's Big Bash 

Wednesday 14 April 7:00 pm
Dunedin Town Hall

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 City Choir Dunedin counterparts to create a mass community orchestra and choir performing selected extracts from the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. 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.

Applaud! Women in Music 

Saturday 29 May 7:30 pm
Knox Church

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor

SOLOISTS: Olivia Pike (soprano), Tessa Romano (mezzo-soprano), Benjamin Madden (tenor)

PIANIST: Sandra Crawshaw

City Choir Dunedin celebrates the contribution to music made by women, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. The programme includes Benjamin Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia, 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 Shaky Places was first performed in 2015, to wide appeal. 

Ode to Joy 

Saturday 12 June 7:30 pm
Dunedin Town Hall

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 City Choir Dunedin.

Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle 

Saturday 2 October 7:30 pm

Knox Church

DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS THIS CONCERT IS POSTPONED UNTIL 2022.

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor

SOLOISTS: Rebecca Ryan (soprano), Claire Barton (alto), Jared Holt (tenor), Federico Freschi (bass)

MUSICIANS: John van Buskirk (piano), Sandra Crawshaw (piano), Ron Newton (harmonium)

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) referred to his Petite Messe Solennelle as the 'last mortal sin of my old age'. Written in 1863 for the Countess Louise Pillet-Will and first performed on 14 March 1864 at the consecration of the Countess' private chapel, the mass is one of Rossini's finest achievements and the outstanding work of his 'retirement'. This magnificent masterpiece of whimsy and joy is neither small, nor solemn!

Handel's Messiah 

Tuesday 7 December 7:30 pm

Dunedin Town Hall

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor

SOLOISTS: Elizabeth Mandeno (soprano), Kate Webber (alto), Lachlan Craig (tenor), Paul Whelan (bass)

DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

Handel’s Messiah 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.

Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum

December (date tbc)

Otago Museum

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor

MARK ANDERSON, assistant conductor

CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN

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. 

Accompanists: Roland Storm and David Burchell