A wonderful concert of music to celebrate the choir's 40 years singing together.
The programme includes Orban's Mass No 9, Mendelssohn, David Hamilton
and features Harpist Helen Webby in Britten's A Ceremony of Carols.
Join us for a celebration of opera featuring some of New Zealand's finest and internationally acclaimed soloists and phenomenal pianist Lindy Tennent-Brown.
The programme includes arias, choruses, and scenes from some of the greatest operas ever written: Tosca and Madama Butterfly (Puccini), La Traviata and Nabucco (Verdi), Peter Grimes (Britten), Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni), and Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss).
Featuring:
Amelia Berry | Amanda Atlas | Alexandra Francis (soprano)
Anna Pierard (mezzo)
Patrick Power | Taylor Wallbank (tenor)
James Harrison (baritone)
Lindy Tennent-Brown (piano)
The Bach Musica NZ chorus (conducted by Rita Paczian)
Bach Musica NZ presents the NZ premiere of Schumann’s Requiem alongside the famous Rodrigo and Vivaldi Guitar Concertos.
Schumann Requiem (NZ premiere)
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez
Vivaldi Guitar Concerto
Rita Paczian conductor
Barkin Sertkaya Guitar
Anna Simmons Soprano
Katie Trigg Alto
Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono Tenor
Angus Simmons Bass
As far as Bach Musica NZ know, their performance of Schumann’s Requiem (op. 148) will be a NZ premiere. The 35-minute composition is scored for four vocal soloists, choir and symphony orchestra. Bach Musica NZ are delighted to showcase a line-up of four rising young NZ vocal soloists.
Turkish-born internationally acclaimed classical guitarist, Barkin Sertkaya, will treat us to not just one, but two guitar concertos. The performance will commence with Concerto for Guitar by the Italian Baroque composer Vivaldi, followed by the most famous guitar concerto of all times, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is by far Rodrigo's best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the 20th century. Its slow movement with its beautiful Cor Anglais solo captured the whole world.
Bach Musica NZ presents Handel’s dramatic oratorio Samson.
Handel Samson
Rita Paczian conductor
Joanna Foote Soprano
Kate Spence Alto
Andrew Grenon Tenor
Joel Amosa Bass
Samuel McKeever Bass
Handel composed Samson immediately after Messiah in 1741. It proved an instant success and has never fallen out of favour since then.
The libretto is based on Milton’s Samson Agonistes. As Milton was blind, he could emphasise with the blindness of Samson, as indeed could Handel whose sight was also beginning to fail. It is a highly operatic work, from a famous operatic composer. The chorus’s role is like the Greek chorus in that it sets the scene, offers moral comments, describes the action in thrilling detail and thus gives a backdrop to the various soloists whose characters are vividly portrayed through Handel’s dramatic writing.
The oratorio is dramatic and tragic, but it ends joyfully with its brilliant soprano aria Let the Bright Seraphim followed by the final triumphant chorus Let their celestial concerts all unite. Samson's great deed has brought redemption to God's people and the work ends triumphantly with a great hymn of praise, in endless morn of light.
Andrew Grenon is featured in the title role of Samson.
Bach Musica NZ presents Durufle Requiem, Tolnay Symphony 2019 (world premiere) and Piazzolla Adios Nonino & Escolaso
Durufle Requiem
Tolnay Symphony 2019 (world premiere)
Piazzolla Adios Nonino & Escolaso
Rita Paczian conductor
Stephanie Poole Accordion
Elisha Hulton Mezzo Soprano
Robert Tucker Baritone
Both pieces by tango Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla feature solo accordion and orchestra. Adiós Nonino (Farewell, father) was written in 1959 in memory of his father, Vicente “Nonino”. Piazzolla’s tango Escolaso is equally famous.
We are proud to present the world premiere of Symphony 2019 by Hungarian-NZ composer Gabor Tolnay. Gabor is a jazz pianist and composer based in Nelson. His Symphony 2019 was inspired by his late wife Judit.
Durufle’s moving Requiem, published in 1948, is the main piece in this concert. It features two vocal soloists, chorus and a big symphony orchestra. The piece is regarded as one of the outstanding choral works of the 20th century.
Bach Musica NZ presents Best of Bach with Bach’s Magnificat, Violin Concerto in E Major, Flute Concerto in e minor BWV 1059/35 (NZ premiere), Jauchzet, frohlocket from Christmas Oratorio.
Rita Paczian conductor
Yanghe Yu Violin
Luca Manghi Flute
Elizabeth Mandeno Soprano
Wendy Dawn Thompson Alto
Iain Tetley Tenor
James Harrison Baritone
Best of Bach concert commences with the NZ premiere of the composer’s Flute Concerto in e minor, played by internationally acclaimed Italian flutist Luca Manghi.
Choir and full orchestra assemble next to perform Bach’s most famous Christmas chorus Jauchzet, frohlocket, the opening music of his Christmas Oratorio.
Bach Musica NZ’s concertmaster, Yanghe Yu, features as soloist in Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major.
In the second half, Bach Musica NZ presents the composer’s famous Magnificat, scored for four vocal soloists, 5-part chorus and large Baroque orchestra, including three majestic trumpets. The ultimate Christmas music!
“It is conceivable, that when Bach premiered his immortal work in Leipzig almost 300 years ago, that the quality of his concert would have been eclipsed last Sunday by that of Bach Musica NZ‘s rendition - and this in remote New Zealand!”
Rainer W. Buhmann, review of Bach Musica NZ’s St Matthew Passion performance in April 2021.
