2010 Concert Programme
Last Night of the Proms
Friday 19 February, 7:30 pm, Dunedin Town Hall
The Southern Sinfonia presents this annual Proms concert at which the City of Dunedin Choir provides the choral support. This year's concert features sopranos Deborah Wai Kapohe and Rebecca Ryan. The Master of Ceremonies is David McPhail and the Conductor is Kenneth Young.
The Choir performs Hymn and Triumphal March from Aida by Verdi.
St John Passion
Sunday 28 March, 3:00 pm, Dunedin Town Hall
The City of Dunedin Choir, supported by the Southern Sinfonia and conducted by David Burchell, presents Bach's Easter story, the St John Passion. This dramatic and powerful oratorio provides a focus for the celebration at Easter.
Tenor Paul McMahon, singing the role of the Evangelist, is highly regarded in Australia for his interpretation of the baroque repertoire. Lois Johnston, soprano, and Claire Barton, alto, are well known and admired by Dunedin concert goers. Oliver Sewell (tenor), Chris Bruerton (bass) and Howard Harvey (in the role of Christ), accomplished soloists from Christchurch, will contribute to the experience of this contemplative work.
The Choir gratefully acknowledges the valuable assistance received from:
Dunedin City Council, The Southern Trust, Bendigo Valley Sports & Charity
Foundation and Caversham Foundation
Fauré & Friends
Sunday 13 June, 3:00 pm, St Pauls Cathedral
The City of Dunedin Choir, conducted by David Burchell, presents a concert in St Paul's Cathedral, of a varied collection of little-known motets and part-songs by French composers from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, as appetizers to one of the most enduring French choral works, Gabriel Fauré's Requiem.
Gabriel Fauré is regarded as the master of the French art song, or mélodie. His works ranged from an early romantic style, when in his early years he emulated the style of Mendelssohn and others, to late 19th century Romantic, and finally to a 20th century aesthetic. The Requiem, Op. 48, was not composed to the memory of a specific person but, in Fauré's words, "for the pleasure of it." It was first performed in 1888.
Musical Director, David Burchell; Assistant Conductor, Michael Dawson; with David Burcell on organ and piano, Rachel Swindells on organ, Catherine Daly-Reeve (Soprano) and Benjamin Caukwell (Baritone).
Programme:
Laudate Dominum - Marcel Dupré (1886 - 1971)
Calme des nuits - Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921)
Les fleurs et les arbres - Camille Saint-Saëns
Madrigal - Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Ave Maria - Camille Saint-Saëns
Maria, Mater gratiae - Gabriel Fauré
Tantum ergo - Gabriel Fauré
Quatre petites prières de Saint François s'Assise - Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
i Salut, Dame Sainte
ii Tout puissant, très saint
iii Seigneur, je vous en prie
iv O mes très chers frères
Cantique de Jean Racine - Gabriel Fauré
Variations sur un thème de Clement Jannequin - Jehan Alain (1911 - 1940)
David Burchell - Organ
Requiem - Gabriel Fauré
i Introit and Kyrie
ii Offertorium
iii Sanctus
iv Pie Jesu
v Agnus Dei
vi Libera me
vii In paradisum
The Choir gratefully acknowledges the valuable assistance received from:
Dunedin City Council
Zimbe!
Saturday 4 September, 7:30 pm, King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre
The City of Dunedin Choir, conducted by David Burchell, presents this concert which will include Zimbe! by Alexander L'Estrange, and excerpts from Tippet's oratorio A Child of our Time.
A 40-minute cantata for SATB chorus, unison children's choir and jazz quintet, Zimbe! is a vibrant sequence of twelve African and gospel songs charting a day in the life of an African village: children's playground songs, a lullaby, a rousing drinking song, and music used on religious occasions. L'Estrange infuses his unique arrangements with references to jazz, classical and 'world' music.
Britten's Saint Nicolas
Saturday 20 November
The City of Dunedin Choir, conducted by David Burchell, presents this concert which will include Saint Nicolas by Benjamin Britten, and Gerald Finzi's Dies Natalis sung by tenor David Hamilton.
The Cantata, Saint Nicolas, composed in 1948, presents legendary incidents in the life of Nicolas, patron saint of children, seamen, and travelers. The part of Nicolas is sung by the solo tenor, while the choir, transforming themselves into various contrasting characters during the drama, relate the adventures and tie the story together with prayers and praise.
The Choir is delighted to welcome back tenor David Hamilton for this performance.