Christopher’s Classics Series XX – 2015 presents Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir

Christopher’s Classics Series XX – 2015 presents Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir with Helen Webby and David Cox on Friday 6th November, 8.00 p.m. at Church of St Michael and All Angels, 86 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch

Christopher’s Classics completes the 2015 programme with a Voices New Zealand concert, featuring an all-female 24-strong choir, teamed with the distinctive colours of harp and horn, and culminating in the world premiere of a commissioned work from Leonie Holmes.

The programme opens with Brahms’ famous Four Songs for female chorus, harp and two horns.  The choir sings a cappella the lovely Poulenc Petites Voix and Holst Ave Maria, followed by Holst’s evocative Hymns to Rig Veda accompanied by harp.  David Hamilton’s Prayer of a Woman, a companion piece to the Brahms, is written to a text by Robin Hyde and Lilburn’s harp solo features a previously unknown work, thought to be the only harp solo he wrote.

Programme:
Johannes Brahms – Four Songs Op. 17 – 1896
Francis Poulenc – Petites Voix – 1936
David Hamilton – Prayer of a Woman (written to a text by Robin Hyde) – 2009
Douglas Lilburn – Poco Lento and Study for Harp – Douglas Lilburn – 1948
Gustav Holst – Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda and Ave Maria – 1911
Leonie Holmes – Land Pictures – 2015

Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir is a vocal ensemble of the highest calibre, directed by Karen Grylls, head of Choral Studies at the University of Auckland.  Since its debut in 1998, it has taken part in a number of prestigious international choral festivals, and in 2010 joined several other choirs and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Accompanying the choir are CSO musicians, principal harpist, Helen Webby, principal horn player, David Cox and horn player, Julian Weir, all high calibre solo performers in their own right.

For more information contact: Diana Moir, (03) 355 2691, 021 126 5738, dhmoir@xtra.co.nz

Ticket information: Door sales – cash only!  Adults $40.00;  full time students $15.00

Bring a cushion to soften the pews at St Michael and All Angels