At the heart of the programme is Faure’s serene and much-loved Requiem, a cornerstone of the choral repertoire. The choir and orchestra will bring this masterpiece to life under the direction of Richard Madden.
Adding some early festive season sparkle, the choir will also present a selection of traditional carols. Arrangements by John Rutter add inimitable charm to well-known melodies such as In Dulci Jubilo and I Saw Three Ships. Lesser known but equally delightful are the French carol, Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant and Angel Tidings, Rutters words put to a Moravian traditional carol. Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine will complete the programme.
The orchestra will accompany the choir throughout. Guest artists will take the spotlight with Berceuse, a lullaby and the first and best-known movement of Faure’s playful Dolly Suite, followed by the lively Concertante for Clarinet, Bassoon and Orchestra, featuring soloists Ashley Hopkins (clarinet and also the orchestra conductor) and Jacqui Hopkins (bassoon). It will be a chance to hear two now-local musicians in a sparkling dialogue of sound. Ashley and Jacqui both have extensive community-based and professional appearances around the country to their credit.
A Feast of Faure offers a rare opportunity to experience the combined talents of two of the region’s finest ensembles, a collaboration that brings together local voices and instrumentalists in a celebration of shared musicianship.
With its blend of the sacred and the seasonal, the programme offers something for everyone: the solace of Faure, the sparkle of Rutter and the brilliance of orchestral colour.
Performance dates
- November 7: 7.30pm Athenaeum Hall, Arrowtown
- November 8: 7.30pm Lake Wānaka Centre, Wānaka
- November 9: 2.30pm Dunstan High School Hall, Alexandra
Tickets $30, school students free, from undertheradar.co.nz Door sales subject to availability.
