2012 Concert Season

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer
circa 1665. Oil on canvas.

Beauty of Baroque
Friday 30 March, 7:30pm at Knox Church

City Choir Dunedin presents the grandeur and exuberance of the pearls of Baroque music.

Conductor: David Burchell
Soloists: Pepe Becker (soprano), Grace Park (soprano), Amanda Cole (mezzo-soprano), Christopher John Clifford (countertenor),  Stephen Chambers (tenor) and Julien van Mellaerts (bass)
Orchestra: Southern Sinfonia

Programme:
Bach: Magnificat (BWV 243)
Handel: Utrecht Te Deum and Organ Concerto Op. 4 no. 2 in B Flat
Charpentier: Laetatus sum

The programme includes the breathtaking Magnificat composed by J.S. Bach in 1723. The impact of this great choral work derives essentially from Bach’s remarkable ability to balance, yet at the same time to exploit to the full, the spiritual and dramatic elements of the concise text of the Magnificat. It is a sublime pearl from an era rich in choral glory.

Stephen Chambers (tenor), recently described as having a “beautiful lyrical tenor voice”, is in Dunedin on a rare visit home. This is an opportunity to witness his progress on the international stage.

The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music. The style started around 1600 in Rome, Italy and spread to most of Europe. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word baroque is derived from the Portuguese word "barroco", Spanish "barroco", or French "baroque", all of which refer to a "rough or imperfect pearl".

Photo: Roger Hogan

Magpie, Song and Dance
Saturday 26 May, 7:30pm at
Knox Church

City Choir Dunedin and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, conducted by David Burchell, are pleased to present a concert of romantic music ranging from somewhat melancholy to excitingly vibrant moods and soaring melodies.

The programme will include Rossini's Thieving Magpie, Brahms' Song of Destiny, Borodin's Polovetsian Dances (from Prince Igor), Sibelius' Karelia Suite, and Mozart's Concerto in A for Clarinet with young soloist Nicole Batchelar, who is now in the third year of a B.Mus. focusing on conducting and composition.

The Journey Home
Saturday 8 September, 8:00pm at Regent Theatre

City Choir Dunedin joins the Southern Sinfonia and conductor Simon Over for the world première performance of John Drummond's new oratorio The Journey Home, in their Tales of Ice and Fire concert.


The Journey Home tells the tale of Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition, and this performance marks the tragedy’s centenary. Texts are by Jeremy Commons, Claire Benyon, Bill Manhire, Chris Orsman, and from the Book of Common Prayer. Jenny Wollerman (soprano) is acknowledged for her exquisite tone and compelling performances; James Rodgers (tenor), from Wellington, now based in New York, returns after his highly-praised 2009 Haydn performance with us, and Robert Tucker (bass baritone) returns from Scottish Opera success.

Also on the programme:
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien
Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite (1919)

Rossini
Petite Messe Solennelle
Saturday 29 September, 7:30pm at
Knox Church

City Choir Dunedin and soloists present Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle with accompaniment on two pianos and organ, conducted by David Burchell. We look forward to performing with our favourite artists:

Emma Fraser - soprano, Amanda Cole - Mezzo-soprano, Matthew Wilson - tenor, Julien van Mellaerts - bass
Pianists: John van Buskirk and Sandra Crawshaw
Organist: Simon Mace

Rossini, the 19th century Italian composer, was known for his sense of humour. So it is that his Petite Messe Solennelle is neither little, nor solemn. Although of a sacred nature, it is unmistakably operatic in style, abounding in memorable tunes and rhythmic vitality. It is an elegant and refined work. 

Messiah Sing-along
Tuesday 11 December, 7:30pm at Knox Church

City Choir Dunedin presents the ever-green oratorio, Messiah, as a sing-along event. We invite the audience to add their voices to this performance and to experience, first-hand, the glory of this music composed by Handel. The performance will be conducted by Peter Adams, with David Burchell on the organ, Ron Caldwell and Ralph Miller on trumpets, and Mark Anderson on timpani.

Soloists: 
Sophie Morris, Soprano
Ingrid Fomiston-Nurse, Soprano
Calla Knudson-Hollebon, Soprano
Christopher John Clifford, Alto
Ben Madden, Tenor
Julien van Mellaerts, Bass