News and Reviews
We mourn the death of Diane Campbell-Hunt
It is with great sadness that we heard of Diane's tragic death on 7 October 2008. She was a cherished choir member and a respected citizen. It was plain to see how much her family loved her. What a sad loss for them; we keep them in our thoughts and our hearts through this difficult time.
We mourn the loss of a thoroughly decent human being - Diane was always friendly, had a ready smile for everyone, and was a wise and caring person. She had boundless energy for her passions in life.
Read more about Diane and the memories her friends have to share.
Elgar's Dream of Gerontius in Christchurch
Forty members of the City of Dunedin Choir travelled to Christchurch to join the Christchurch City Choir in a performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius on Saturday 13 September 2008.
We thought it was a first-class performance and it was wonderful to be able to perform this favourite work again. The soloists were David Hamilton (tenor), Kate Spence (mezzo) and Paul Whelan (bass), the conductor was Brian Law and the orchestral support was provided by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. (Click the photo to view a larger version.)
Bach's Christmas Oratorio
The Choir has started rehearsals for the performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio on 22 November 2008. Our archives show that we have performed this work only twice before. Looking at the dates it seems there is a performance roughly once in every generation, so be sure not to miss this opportunity!
12 November 1968, at John McGlashan Chapel, with Judith Galloway (soprano), Ruth Harman (alto), Ross Mayhew (tenor), Maurice Taylor (bass), with the Dunedin Civic Orchestra and conductor Peter Platt.
3 Dec 1985, in the Dunedin Town Hall with Ainslie Bannister (soprano), Rosemary Turnbull (alto), Anthony Benfell (tenor), Roger Wilson (bass), Vivienne McLean (harpsichord), with the Dunedin Sinfonia and conducted by Ray White
The University of Otago offers the following course in their Continuing Education programme:
Bach: Christmas Oratorio :: A course for anyone interested in classical music.
Mondays, 10 and 24 November 2008. For more information please
download the brochure (PDF 684KB).
Saturday 9 August 2008: Concert Review: Orff's Carmina Burana
Performances give large audience plenty to relish
"Carl Orff's robust cantata Carmina Burana filled the second half of the programme with big sound and pace. This 1937 work has ancient lyrical text, outrageously pagan and sensual in content, with many declamatory passages demanding spirited delivery from all. On Saturday over 200 performers triumphed with vigour and energy. A particularly zealous men's chorus (the strongest in this choir for some time) maintained pace and drive throughout - perhaps the meaningful text appealed? Other sections caught the atmosphere and the work never flagged.
Jared Holt, one of this country's best young singers, displayed great versatility, slipping effortlessly from his lyrical baritone to stunning upper register tenor resonance, plus falsetto and counter-tenor quality as required for Dies nox et omnia. Wellington soprano Barbara Graham (2008 Dame Malvina Major emerging artist) will go far with her elegant delivery, purity of tone and intonation. Her Amor volat undique balanced perfectly with the children, who phrased and enunciated clearly, directed by David Burchell, Anthony Richie and Holly Mathieson. International tenor New Zealander John Murray was also in excellent voice."
(Extract from the review by Elizabeth Bouman in the Otago Daily Times of 11 August 2008.)
We have a blog!
Be sure to visit our brand new blog at cityofdunedinchoir.blogspot.com
The purpose of the blog is to provide a place where choir members and our patrons can talk about their experiences at rehearsals, performances, gigs like at Carisbrook, choral music, choir members' babies, etc etc - as you like it. Let us have your opinions, or simply get to know one another. Since we have to be quiet, listen and work during rehearsals, there's not much time for chatting!
Saturday 12 July 2008: National anthems at Carisbrook
The City of Dunedin Choir has been commissioned to provide the backing for the singing of the South African and New Zealand national anthems at the rugby test at Carisbrook on Saturday 12 July. The soloists are Peter Chin for the New Zealand national anthem and Claire Barton for the South African national anthem.
The rehearsals have been great fun, even though we've had to work hard at getting the pronunciation of the four foreign languages in the South African national anthem just right. Luckily we have several ex-South Africans in the Choir who could show us how to get our tongues around the Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho and Afrikaans.
Due to restrictions by the organisers the Choir will be represented on the night by about one third of its usual membership, but a recording of the full choir has been made and will be played as an "accompaniment" to the live performance.
And here they are: Claire Barton and the "Carisbrook Choir" singing the South African National Anthem.
Saturday 9 August 2008: Orff's Carmina Burana
The City of Dunedin Choir joins the Southern Sinfonia to perform Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday 9 August. The conductor will be Werner Andreas Albert.
From the Choir's archives:
The first New Zealand performance of this work was here in Dunedin on 14th September 1965 with soloists Rosemary Gordon, Grant Dickson and Anson Austin conducted by Peter Platt. Also on the programme were Bach's Peasant Cantata and Britten's Hymn to St Cecilia. Hearsay has it that on the night of the final rehearsal, Prof Platt had a translation available to the choir, somewhat racy in parts, as a consequence of which a few ladies discreetly withdrew from the performance. It was next performed on 8th October 1977, when Peter Warwick led the choir, now known as the Schola Cantorum, with Angela Shaw, Jeffrey Todd and Roger Wilson as soloists. The companion work was Lambert's Rio Grande with Terence Dennis on piano and Sally Banks, Harvey Brown and Carol Vial as soloists. Some of us have another recollection of this concert. Jack Foster was a popular Presbyterian Minister in Mosgiel. He was in the audience, in the circle, and during the enthusiastic applause at the end of the work he dropped out of view when his seat collapsed!
The following 15th April it was performed again with the Oamaru Choral Society lead by their conductor. The conductor inadvertently turned over two pages at once and held the choir on one note to near bursting point while he sorted himself out! This time the complementary work was Dvorak's Te Deum, with soloists Angela Shaw, Graeme Gorton, and conductor Peter Warwick.
We then hosted the Christchurch Harmonic Society to our 125th year celebrations on 9th July 1988 with soloists Ainslie Banniser and Roger Wilson (singing both tenor and bass parts), Terence Dennis on piano and the Dunedin Sinfonia conducted by Peter Adams. John Drummond's Celebration and once again Rio Grande were the complementary works.
For our last performance with the St Kilda Brass Band on 19th September 1992 we hosted the Southland Choral Society. The soloists were Ainslie Bannister and David Griffiths with Terence Dennis and Christine Griiffiths on piano. Various choruses, arias and brass fanfares filled out the rest or the programme.
Saturday 31 May 2008: Concert Review: Schubert's Mass in A Flat
Accolades for orchestra, choir
"Despite the holiday weekend and sport on TV, an extremely good-sized audience attended the town hall on Saturday evening to hear the Dunedin Youth Orchestra and the City of Dunedin Choir, conducted by David Burchell.
It was a great performance and accolades flowed, particularly for the DYO... The length and difficulty of the programme was a huge ask for these young players, who achieved an extremely commendable standard overall.
The choir, of well over 130 singers, was in good form, delivering a beautiful interpretation, despite there appearing to be insufficient male voices for a satisfactory blend. High register soprano clarity and intonation were particularly commendable.
Soloists... Lois Johnson.. Claire Barton... Andrew Grenon... Chris Bruerton... their frequent harmonic passages were perfectly balanced, refreshingly light and appealing."
(Extract from the review by Elizabeth Bouman in the Otago Daily Times of 1 June 2008.)
22 and 23 February 2008: Last Night of the Proms
The City of Dunedin Choir performed the choral work He saw the lovely youth (from the oratorio Theodora), by Handel, at the Southern Sinfonia's presentation of Last Night of the Proms, in the Dunedin Town Hall on two successive evenings.
During the second half of the programme the Choir provided the support for the traditional Proms repertoire and encouraged audience participation. This year members of the choir were dressed in the typical British red, white and blue, making an impressive display during the second half, arranged in blocks of these colours.
Needless to say, much fun was had by all!
11 December 2007: Concert review: Messiah
The following is an extract from the review of this performance, by Elizabeth Bouman in the Otago Daily Times:
"Both the Choir and the Sinfonia are a credit to a city of this size and excelled in conquering the demands of this three-hour Baroque marathon.
The 110-strong choir gave energy and full resonant sound for Burchell to draw upon for the big choruses. Setting their sights early in And the Glory and Glory to God, phrasing and articulation were generally good, with passionate voicing. As to be expected the Hallelujah chorus was a highlight, rising to a thrilling climax... I thought the choir was fantastic.
Soloists add the gilding to any oratorio and having Dunedin-trained Anna Leese in the country for a short visit of recitals was a real bonus.
Prolonged applause and footstamping followed the resounding Amens, and tired but jubilant musicians felt the buzz of completing yet another outstanding delivery of this 1742 masterpiece."
Saturday 8 September 2007: Concert review: Dream of Gerontius
The City of Dunedin Choir with members of the Southern Consort of Voices and the St Paul's Cathedral Choir, the Southern Sinfonia, tenor David Hamilton, mezzo-soprano Helen Medlyn and bass David Griffiths, with conductor David Burchell, Dunedin Town Hall. Extract from the review by Elizabeth Bouman in the Otago Daily Times:
"This late Romantic oratorio, written by Edward Elgar in 1900, is challenging for any choir. Saturday's performance was sublime and all credit to organisers for presenting such a grand work in our city."
"Stunning choral sound lifted Praise in the Holiest to great heights, contrasting with subtle shading of the many gentle more restrained passages. The Demon's Chorus was a highlight - rythmically taut and contrastingly vibrant."
"Conductor David Burchell is to be complimented on leading both Choir and Sinfonia successfully through this two-hour journey with unflagging energy, an impressive sense of drama, and sensitivity."
Saturday 26 May 2007: Concert review: Gloria
Southern Sinfonia, the City of Dunedin Choir and Invercargill A Capella Singers with conductor Tecwyn Evans and soprano Emma Fraser, Dunedin Town Hall. Extract from the review by Abbey Smith in the Otago Daily Times:
"The concert was well attended by a warmly enthusiastic audience, who clearly enjoyed the diversity and range of the music on offer." Of Poulenc's Gloria she says: "At first it was not clear whether the choir could match the volume and clarity of the orchestra, but after a few nervous moments the singers lifted their heads and sang really well. Antiphonal sections, in particular, were well done with precise entries and exits. Emma Fraser sang the soprano solos with a pure tone that suited the music. The balance between soloist, choir and orchestra was particularly good towards the end of the piece."