“From Tallis to Rutter”—the phrase describes the vast scope of the Great British Choral Tradition. Thomas Tallis was an Elizabethan musical star in the 16th century, while five centuries later, in the same tradition, John Rutter writes some of the most imaginative choral music to be found anywhere today.
The motet Spem in Alium is in forty, yes forty— parts, and moves through myriad combinations to form a stunning vocal kaleidoscope.
Composed in 1985 as a tribute to his father, Rutter’s smooth but modern Requiem often nods fondly towards some of the composer’s own musical “fathers”, including Fauré, Mahler, and Gershwin.
Separating Tallis from Rutter, Vaughan Williams appears through his ravishing instrumental work based on everyone’s favourite English folksong Greensleeves.
Morag Atchison, Soprano
Auckland Choral
Pipers Sinfonia
Uwe Grodd, Conductor
Tickets are available at eventfinda.co.nz or phone 0800 BUYTIXS (0800 289 8497).
Price $45, concessions available.
Please note that some seats have obstructed views.
Jim Allardyce here from Whangarei. Commuting to Auckland for work, down on a Tuesday and back on a Friday, has opened up a new side to my social calendar. Rehearsals at the choir have become my weekly highlight forming a natural part of my week. Joining only this year, I remember going for my first visit to "check it all out" - I sat at the back amazed at the choir sight-reading Mendelssohn in German (as it was their first reading and performance of the piece). Very soon I was in the thick of it - rolling my r's in Mendelssohn's tongue with the other singers in my bass one section. My inaugural concert in the Auckland Town Hall was unforgettable as the choir was stupendous.
A singing member of Auckland Choral for 12 years, Beverley has enjoyed a lifetime of involvement in the performing arts and has sung with many choirs throughout New Zealand. She has the choir’s best interests at heart, and as Chair of the Management Committee is committed to its success to offer performances of excellence and to bringing choral music to the wider community of the Auckland region both now and in the future.
David Hamilton has been singing with the choir since 1982, and is currently President of Auckland Choral. He is a music educator, composition tutor, choral conductor and adjudicator. He has been Deputy Music Director of Auckland Choral (1996-2011) and Composer-in-Residence with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (1999). In 2013 he was guest composer at the national choral event Sing Aotearoa, and in 2015 composer-in-residence at the NZ Singing School. He has won a number of international composer competitions (Italy, USA, UK, and Israel) and in 2014 “Wairua” for solo harp took 1st place in the NZ Harp Society’s competition. In 2016 “American Triptych” took 1st place in a competition for the Stockton Chorale (USA). In 2017 “Are We There Yet?” took 1st place in the Australia and NZ Viola Society composer’s competition, and “Cling to Me” was placed third in the 4th Komos Choral Composition Competition (Bologna, Italy). The choir has commissioned a number of works from him, most recently “
