City of Dunedin Choir.

2008 Concerts

Last Night of the Proms.

Friday 22 and Saturday 23 February 2008 :: Last Night of the Proms

Dunedin Town Hall

The Southern Sinfonia presents this annual Proms concert at which the City of Dunedin Choir always provides the choral support. The Choir performed the choral work He saw the lovely youth (from the oratorio Theodora), by Handel. This year's concert featured bass baritone Jonathan Lemalu and organist Rachell Swindells. Master of Ceremonies: Garrick Tremain. Conductor: Tecwyn Evans.

Franz Schubert.

Saturday 31 May 2008 :: Schubert

Dunedin Town Hall

  • Ferdinand Hérold: Overture to Zampa
  • Edouard Lalo: Cello Concerto in D Minor (first movement) Soloist: Nanae Sato
  • Emmanuel Chabrier: Espana
  • Franz Schubert: Mass No. 5 in A Flat

The City of Dunedin Choir and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra presented Schubert's Mass in A Flat. Soloists: Lois Johnston (soprano), Claire Barton (mezzo-soprano), Chris Bruerton (bass) and Andrew Grenon (tenor). Conductor: David Burchell.

South African and New Zealand flags.

Saturday 12 July 2008 :: National anthems

Carisbrook

The City of Dunedin Choir provided 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 were Peter Chin for the New Zealand national anthem and Claire Barton for the South African national anthem.

Carl Orff.

Saturday 9 August 2008 :: Orff

Dunedin Town Hall

The City of Dunedin Choir, St Paul's Choristers, Southern Children's Youth Choir and the Southern Sinfonia perform Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in a concert presented by the Southern Sinfonia. Soloists: Jared Holt (baritone), Barbara Graham (soprano), John Murray (tenor). Conductor: Werner Andreas Albert.

Sir Edward Elgar.

Saturday 13 September 2008 :: Elgar

Christchurch Town Hall

The City of Dunedin Choir joined the Christchurch City Choir to sing Elgar's Dream of Gerontius.

Soloists: Kate Spence (mezzo-soprano), Keith Lewis (tenor), Paul Whelan (bass), with the Christchurch City Choir, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Cathedral Choir and City of Dunedin Choir. Conductor: Brian Law.

Stained glass window depicting nativity scene.

Saturday 22 November 2008 :: Christmas Oratorio

Dunedin Town Hall

The City of Dunedin Choir, supported by the Southern Sinfonia, presented Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

Soloists: Nicola Edgecombe (soprano), Kate Spence (mezzo soprano), John Murray (tenor), Chris Bruerton (bass), Catherine Daly (echo soprano). Conductor: David Burchell.

Unlike his Passion settings and the oratorios of his contemporary Handel, Bach conceived the Christmas Oratorio as a set of six cantatas to be performed on separate days over the Twelve Days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Day and ending on Epiphany (January 6). As with his Passion settings, the Evangelist (tenor soloist) carries the narrative, using familiar Gospel texts. The other soloists perform dramatic roles, such as the Angel and Herod, and also sing arias which reflect on the significance of the story.

The chorus contributes the parts of 'the heavenly host', the shepherds and the Wise Men, as well as chorales and extended choruses which are the corner stones of the cantatas.