St Matthew Passion - An Epic Musical Creation
Sunday 31 March 2:00 pm
Dunedin Town Hall
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor
SOLOISTS: Iain Tetley (Evangelist), Scott Bezett (Jesus), Lois Johnston (Soprano), Claire Barton (Alto), Andrew Grenon (Tenor), Malcolm Leitch (Bass)
Presented by CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN
CHRISTCHURCH CITY CHOIR
FAIRFIELD SCHOOL CHOIR, FORTE
DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) composed his St Matthew Passion for the 1727 Good Friday service at St Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany. The work is the largest single composition Bach ever wrote, both in terms of length and in terms of forces called for in the score.
The story of the Passion begins in the turmoil of Jesus’s last days in Jerusalem and ends with his crucifixion and burial. The St Matthew Passion is one the greatest creations, revealing layers of meaning in the text. The great variety of music in this work is dramatic, passionate and emotional, and surprises abound.
St Matthew Passion is performed around the world near Easter in keeping with its history and story and City Choir Dunedin is proud to present this work just prior to Easter. This event will be a highlight in Dunedin’s musical calendar. With more than 250 musicians on stage, it will be an epic performance and one not to be missed.
Celebration of the University of Otago in Music
Sunday 2 June 7:30 pm
Dunedin Town Hall
The University of Otago presents its 150th Gala Concert and City Choir Dunedin has been invited to share the stage with other iconic Dunedin artists.
The Gala concert "A Celebration of Otago in Music" offers a feast of music with connections to the University, from the early days of the Department of Music right up to the present. Some of Otago's most distinguished musical alumni are coming back to Dunedin to take part, along with some bright young stars of the future. The programme has been created by the department's hugely talented staff, who will also be performing on the night.
From the Southern Marches
Saturday 24 August 7:30 pm
Dunedin Town Hall
SIMON OVER, conductor
EMMA FRASER and ANNA LEESE, sopranos
JOEL AMOSA, Bass-baritone
TENOR tbc
CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN
SOUTHERN YOUTH CHOIR
Presented by DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Anthony Ritchie and George Griffiths: From the Southern Marches
From the Southern Marches tells the story of the people who have settled in Otago (Maori, Scots and English, Chinese etc.), depicting the cultural, social and economic historical development of the region (the term ‘marches’ referring to an area of land which is on the border with another). Anthony Ritchie’s long and fruitful association with the orchestra started in 1993 and 1994 when he was the Composer-in-Residence. His outstanding ability to set words to music was recognised by the historian George Griffiths who commissioned Anthony to write this full-length work, with texts selected by George. Audience demand was such that after the first performance in 1998 a second performance took place later that year.
Norma's Big Birthday Bash
Sunday 6 October 4:00 pm
Dunedin Town Hall
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor
CELLISTS OF OTAGO
CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN
Presented by DUNEDIN TOWN HALL ORGAN TRUST, CELLISTS OF OTAGO, UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO PERFORMING ARTS with cellist HELEEN DU PLESSIS
We celebrate the 100th birthday of Norma, the Town Hall's magnificent organ, with a large-scale concert performing works for cello ensemble, organ and choir. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of truly beautiful music and the prowess of Norma!
Handel's Messiah - The World's Most Loved Choral Work
Tuesday 10 December 7:30 pm
Dunedin Town Hall
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor
REBECCA RYAN soprano, TESSA ROMANO alto, ANDREW GRENON tenor, JOEL AMOSA bass
Presented by CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN
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, is pleased to again perform this oratorio to provide a fantastic opportunity for you to experience a world-class delivery of this dramatic and passionate work.
Handel began composing Messiah on 22 August 1741 and completed it twenty-four days later. But, however hasty the composition, the power of the musical imagination, the wealth of ideas, the depth of inspiration, and the sheer variety of invention continue to astonish.
Messiah is unique among Handel's oratorios in its New Testament subject and reflective treatment. It has been described as a 'collection' taken from the Bible and the Prayer Book Psalter, and is a mixture of narrative and commentary. This freed Handel from some of the more restrictive opera conventions and permitted greater use of the chorus than is generally the case in his other oratorios. Messiah is probably Handel's most famous work and its ubiquity has outreached anything Handel could ever have envisaged.
Book tickets now!
Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum
Saturday 21 December 1:00 pm
Otago Museum
DAVID BURCHELL, conductor
MARK ANDERSON, assistant conductor
CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN
City Choir Dunedin will delight you with an hour-long programme of Christmas music at the Otago Museum. This event is free!
Accompanists: Roland Storm and David Burchell
