2023 Concert Season

Photo: Ian Thomson, August 2020.

Alleluia! Music for Eastertide

Saturday 22 April, 7:30 pm

Knox Church

Conductor: David Burchell

Soloists: Caroline Burchell, Erin Connelly-Whyte, Brendon Shanks, Edward Smith

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

Presented by City Choir Dunedin

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.

Samuel Scheidt: Surrexit Christus hodie

J.S. Bach: Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4

Josef Rheinberger: Osterhymne, Op. 134

David Burchell: O Sons and Daughters

Telemann: Zwei Jünger gehn nach Emmaus, TVWV 1:1738a

Mozart: Regina Coeli, K. 127

Brahms's Deutsches Requiem, Christchurch

Saturday 19 August

Christchurch Town Hall

Presented by Christchurch City Choir

City Choir Dunedin traveled to Christchurch to join the Christchurch City Choir and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Brahms's Deutsches Requiem and Schicksalslied.

Dunedin Youth Orchestra: Force of Destiny

Friday 15 September

Knox Church

City Choir Dunedin joined the DYO on stage in their concert, performing the second movement from the Brahms Deutsches Requiem, 'Den Alles Fleisch'

Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No. 2

Friday 3 November

Dunedin Town Hall

Presented by New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

City Choir Dunedin joined the NZSO in a performance of the Ravel suite, staged in the Dunedin Town Hall. 

Handel's Messiah 

Saturday 25 November, 7:30 pm

Dunedin Town Hall

Conductor: David Burchell

Soloists: Elizabeth Mandeno, Maaike Christie-Beekman, Lachlan Craig, Wade Kernot

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

Presented by City Choir Dunedin

Handel’s Messiah is heard around the world during the Christmas season, being greatly appreciated, admired and enjoyed. 

Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum

Saturday 23 December, 2:00 pm

Tūhura Otago Museum

David Burchell, conductor

Soloists: Caroline Burchell, Sarah Baird, Ben France-Hudson, Alex McAdam

Mark Anderson, assistant conductor

Roland Storm, pianist

Presented by City Choir Dunedin

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.

Contrasting but complementary works beautifully performed

Mozart Requiem
Saturday 26 November 2022, Knox Church

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 Requiem and Forrest's the breath of life.

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.

The concert began with the New Zealand première of Forrest's 2019 atmospheric work the breath of life, 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.

The full forces of choir, orchestra and soloists then marshalled under Burchell's direction in a vigorous, nicely balanced performance of Mozart's Requiem.

In a work filled with moments of drama and poignancy, the choir highlights for this reviewer were the opening Requiem, Kyrie, Dies Irae, the beautiful Lacrimosa, and the Agnus Dei. Gentle moments were beautifully rendered, and some fiendishly quick fugue passages were tackled with aplomb.

The soloists were superb in solo passages and worked well together to blend their voices in the Tuba mirum, Recordare, and Benedictus movements, with Caroline Burchell's clear soprano soaring beautifully above.

The DSO players were excellent in support, adding form and colour to a wonderful musical experience. Bravo!

Review by Brenda Harwood, The Star, 1 December 2022.

Strong performance of popular requiem

Mozart Requiem
Saturday 26 November 2022, Knox Church

Mozart's Requiem is popular repertoire for large choirs, writes Elizabeth Bouman.

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).

Requiem 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.

Conductor David Burchell choose a good forward-moving tempo, achieving a strong performance overall.

Lacrimosa and Sanctus were highlights.

Also on the programme was a contemporary choral (2019) work, the breath of life, by American Dan Forrest (1978-).

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.

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.

Dramatic script from the Bible, classic and modern poetry set sensitive text, but not always clearly enunciated by the 70-strong choir.

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.

This was the first New Zealand performance of the breath of life, and I felt Dunedin’s musicians gave a commendable performance.

Review by Elizabeth Bouman, Otago Daily Times, 28 November 2022.