Octavius Choir: Puttin' on the Ritz!
- Date: 21/02/2026 13:30 - 15:00
- Location: Waiapu Cathedral, Browning Street, Napier
- Tickets: Nil (Koha accepted )
Napier's Octavius Choir will present a concert with a difference in the Waiapu Cathedral on Saturday February 21, as part of the 2026 Art Deco Festival. Joined by the Cathedral Strings, the choir will take listeners on a musical journey through the clubs and dance halls, Hollywood studios and radio stages of the Jazz era.
The programme features music by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin and other well-known composers. Many of their songs were first heard in films and stage shows and have become standards through their association with important events of the era. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Bye Bye Blackbird and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy capture the mood of wartime romance and resilience, while Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Mister Sandman remind us that in uncertain times people turn to music for comfort, hope, and a little sparkle.
Swing and syncopated rhythms are a feature of the era, heard in It Don’t Mean a Thing, Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Maple Leaf Rag. Ain’t Misbehavin’ is pure Fats Waller charm and lush, lyrical melodies feature in a song made famous by Frank Sinatra: Fly Me to the Moon. These and other songs will bring the audience 90 minutes of pure pleasure. All are welcome!
What? Puttin’ on the Ritz – a concert by Octavius Choir
When? 1:30 pm, Saturday February 21st 2026
Where? Waiapu Cathedral, Browning Street, Napier
Entry? No tickets required; your koha/donation will be appreciated
Parking? Note: The central city will be closed to traffic during the Festival weekend, so allow extra time to find a park and walk to the cathedral.
