Newsletter/blog - CANTORIS CHOIR, WELLINGTON

Cantica Sacra

2/10/2016

Cantoris welcomed Spring with a Sunday afternoon performance of sacred music from Emanuele d'Astorga and Mozart. The choir was joined by soloists Olivia Marshall, Linden Loader, Jamie Young and Will King, and supported by an ensemble of young musicians.

Programme:

Stabat Mater - d'Astorga
Ave verum corpus - Mozart
Vesperae solennes de confessore - Mozart

Mozart's Ave verum corpus was composed six months prior to his death in 1792 and Vesperae solennes de confessore was the composer's last composition for the Salzburg Cathedral. The moving, beautiful and rarely-performed d'Astorga's Stabat Mater was composed in the 18th century by the little known composer, and is his only sacred work to survive.

Download the concert programme - click here.

Musical Director:
Thomas Nikora

Performance:
Sunday 2 October 2016, 3pm
St Andrew's on the Terrace, Wellington

Review:
By Middle C

Sound Bites

1/7/2016

To celebrate 115 years of the Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre, the Soup Kitchen hosted a fundraising concert, 'Sound Bites'. Cantoris was invited to sing in this concert along with members of the Wellington Youth Choir and students from the NZ School of Music.

Musical Director and Accompanist:
Thomas Nikora

Performance:
Friday 1 July 2016, 7:00pm
St Joseph's Church, 154-156 Brougham Street
Mount Victoria, Wellington

Baroque to Broadway

14/5/2016

Cantoris performed Baroque to Broadway, under the direction of it's new musical director, Thomas Nikora. The evening's music took the audience on a journey across the years of music by much-loved composers.

The programme aimed to bring two extremes in music together. Vivaldi's Gloria is at the foremost of choral repertoire, contrasting with well-known Broadway musical pieces from composers such as Sondheim, CY Colman, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Programme:

Gloria - Vivaldi
Children will Listen - Sondheim
The Rhythm of Life - Colman & Fields
Send in the Clowns - Sondheim
Sunday - Sondheim
Selections from Carousel - Rodgers & Hammerstein
Fiddler on the Roof medley - Harnick & Bock

Musical Director:
Thomas Nikora

Performance:
Saturday 14 May 2016, 7:30pm
St Andrew's on the Terrace, Wellington

I vaghi fiori – Madrigals, Mysteries and More

9/11/2015

The choir gave an hour's performance of delightful choral and organ music.

Musical Director and Organ Solos:
Bruce Cash

Performance:
7 November 2015, St Andrew’s on The Terrace. Wellington, 3pm

Zigeunerlieder: Gypsy Songs

6/5/2015

As well as Brahms's evocative Zigeunerlieder, the programme also included works by Beethoven and Rossini.

Featuring:

Rossini - La Passaggiata
Rossini - Il Gondolieri
Brahms - Zigeunerlieder
Beethoven - Meeres Stille
Brahms - Wie lieblich sind deine wohnungen
Beethoven - Elegische Gesang

Musical Director:
Bruce Cash

Performance:
6 May, St John's Church, Willis Street, 7.30pm

Review:
By Middle C

Museum of Wellington City & Sea - 15th Birthday

1/12/2014

As part of the Museum's 15th birthday celebration programme, Cantoris gave a concert that included well-known works by Brahms, Rossini, Kodaly and Beethoven.

Featuring:

Faure: Cantique de Jean Racine
Brahms: Abendst ändchen from Drei gesange op 42
Brahms: Von edler Art from Deutches Volksleider
Brahms: Täublein weiß from Deutches Volksleider
Brahms: Geistliches Lied, Op 30
Rossini: I Gondilieri
Kodaly: Esti dal (Evening Song
Beethoven: An Mälzel

Musical Director:
Bruce Cash

Performance:
30 November, Museum of Wellington City and Sea Wellington, Bond Street, 2.30pm

Recovering Forbidden Voices - Victims and Survivors

24/8/2014

The Choir was invited to perform the Victims and Survivors programme at the Recovering Forbidden Voices Conference, hosted by NZSM and the History and German Programmes of Victoria University of Wellington. The conference featured performances and scholarly papers on the suppression of music in World War Two.

Featuring:
Fugitive Footsteps - Laurence Sherr

Musical Director:
Donald Maurice
Baritone:
Kieran Rayner
Performance:
24 August, Wellington Jewish Community Centre, 12.10pm

Recovering Forbidden Voices - Banned by the Nazis

24/8/2014

The Choir was invited to perform the Victims and Survivors programme at the Recovering Forbidden Voices Conference, hosted by NZSM and the History and German Programmes of Victoria University of Wellington. The conference featured performances and scholarly papers on the suppression of music in World War Two.

This performance was the world premiere of Vom Judischen Schicksal – Richard Fuchs (1887-1947).

Featuring:
Vom Judischen Schicksal - Richard Fuchs (1887-1947)
Musical Director:
Donald Maurice
Baritone:
Christian Thurston
Soprano:
Jenny Wollerman

NZSM Orchestra
Performance:
24 August, St Andrew's on The Terrace, 8pm

A Special Farewell

9/11/2013

What a great year!! Out of the blue we caught a pearler who has taken Cantoris on a fabulous journey this year. 3 wonderful programmes, the best audience turn out we've had a for a while, great reviews and last but not least a positive and encouraging atmosphere to spread our wings and really enjoy the singing.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and Brian is leaving the shores of the long white cloud on the next phase of his travels. We wish him every good fortune and happiness in his career. His legacy for the choir will last a long time:)

Choir members and audiences are invited to post your thoughts here, or if you would like to do so in private, please email cantorisnz@gmail.com

You are also invited to join us to farewell Brian in person on Wed 20th Nov 8.30pm, St Andrews on the Terrace (pizza and wine provided)

Thanks!!

Cloudburst

8/9/2013

A joint performance between Cantoris Choir and Festival Singers of Wellington.

The Choirs performed Eric Whitacre's iconic work "Cloudburst" as part of a journey through the seasons featuring choral works from different ages and genres.

Programme:
Spring

Eric Whitacre – Alleluia
Brahms – Wie Lieblich sind deine wohnungen
John Tavener - The Lamb

Summer

I’m a train – King’s Singers
Robert Applebaum – Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day
Moses Hogan – Elijah Rock

Autumn

Autumn – Joshua Shank
Eric Whitacre – Cloudburst

Winter

Ralph Vaughan Williams – The Cloud Capp’d Towers
R. Thompson - Stopping by woods on a snowy evening
Brahms – Waldesnacht

Musical Director:
Brian O'Regan

Performances:
1 Nov, St Andrews on the Terrace, 7.30pm
3 Nov, St Mark's Uniting Church, Lower Hutt, 2.30pm

Media:
Listen to Brian talk about the concert on Upbeat, RadioNZ

Review:
By Middle C

Photo used under Creative Commons from włodi