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.

2022 Concert Season

Celebrating Matariki - Whakanuia Matariki

Saturday 2 July, 7:30 pm

Dunedin Town Hall

Presented by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

The women of City Choir Dunedin joined the orchestra on stage for 'Neptune' from Holst's The Planets.

Concert for Ukraine

Sunday 17 July, 4:30 pm

Dunedin Town Hall

Presented by City Choir Dunedin

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.

Mozart's Monster Mash

Saturday 30 July 7:00 pm

Dunedin Town Hall

Presented by Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

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'. 

Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle 

Sunday 28 August 2:30 pm

Knox Church

Presented by City Choir Dunedin

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'.  This magnificent masterpiece of whimsy and joy is neither small, nor solemn!

Mozart Requiem
Saturday 26 November, 7:30 pm

Knox Church

Presented by City Choir Dunedin

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor 

SOLOISTS: Caroline Burchell (soprano), Claire Barton (mezzo), Scott Bezett (tenor) and Edward Smith (bass)

CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN 

DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Mozart’s masterful Requiem 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 the breath of life.

Christmas Carols @ Otago Museum

Sunday 18 December, 2:00 pm

Otago Museum

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor

MARK ANDERSON, assistant conductor

CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN

Christmas music for the festive season, presented in the annual free performance at the Otago Museum.

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 WAS POSTPONED UNTIL 2022.

Handel's Messiah 

Tuesday 7 December 7:30 pm

Dunedin Town Hall

DAVID BURCHELL, conductor

SOLOISTS: Lois Johnston (soprano), Claire Barton (alto), Oliver Sewell (tenor), and 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

Sunday 19 December 2:00 pm

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