AUCKLAND
CHORAL SOCIETY
Previous Front Page News
6 October 2011
Recent Photos from NZSO Beethoven 9th Symphony Concert
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Uwe Grodd pictured with Auckland Choral Choir Manager Rhondda Garland, taken prior to the Gareth Farr and Beethoven concert. |
The Music Director Karen Grylls from Voices NZ and Uwe Grodd, Auckland Choral following the performance of Gareth Farr and Beethoven Nine with the NZSO, 24 September 2011. |
6 January 2012
APO/Auckland Choral: Beethoven 9th Symphony Broadcast, Concert FM, 12 January 2012
Tune in to the Music Alive Programme at 8:00PM on 12 January 2012, to hear the stunning Beethoven 9th Symphony (Choral); Auckland Choral joining forces with APO for this raved about concert! Listen on the Live Stream.
2 October 2011
Welcome to the 2012 Subscription Season!
Proudly representing New Zealand’s largest symphonic choir, we welcome you to the Auckland Choral 2012 subscription series. We present to you an appealing programme full of exciting and moving choral masterpieces, bringing together our 140 choristers, carefully chosen soloists and great orchestras including the NZSO. The choir is thrilled about performing the two Great Masses by Bruckner and Mozart which have not been in our repertoire for over 30 years! Our brochure tells you all about what we have in store for you in 2012. Experience a melange of colour throughout our 2012 Subscription Season - not to be missed! We look forward to meeting you at our concerts.
SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THE 2012 SEASON AND SAVE 30 PERCENT!!
Uwe Grodd
19 September 2011
Friends of Auckland Choral
We have a number of special Events for our Friends of Auckland Choral which occur throughout the year. They range from attending Workshops and other rehearsals where you can also participate. Visit the Friends page to discover more about these events. More....
16 September 2011
Parking Officer by Day and Singer at Night
Auckland Choral member, Joy is a Parking Officer by day and singer by night. On Friday 9 September, there wasn't a ticket in sight as she headed to Eden Park for the Opening Ceremony. “I’ll be part of the choir singing the New Zealand and Tongan National Anthems,” Joy says. When asked about what singing at the Opening of Rugby World Cup 2011 means Joy smiled broadly. “It’s freaky, it’s huge. It’s the whole of us presenting to the world.” Picture (left to right): Rick Bidgood, Joy and Uwe Grodd. More....
11 September 2011
Auckland Choral Members Selected in the NZCF Anthem Choirs at Rugby World Cup
Over 1000 people from around New Zealand auditioned to be part of the NZCF Anthem Choirs in a venture spearheaded by John Rosser. All members being part of NZCF Choirs were offered the chance of a lifetime to sing the Anthems at every match at the IRB Rugby World Cup. Around 480 from around the country were successful in their auditions and were excited to be part of this event. A number of choristers from Auckland Choral were selected and we congratulate all those that were successful. Pictured above, (left to right), Auckland Choral members, Ming Wong, Roger Hillman, Setsuko Lichtnecker and Rachel Harrison under the main stand at North Harbour Stadium who sung at the France v Japan match. Click the link here, to share in the experiences in our Rugby World Cup Blog. More....
31 July 2011
MP3 Player Update: Mozart Requiem
Relive the dramatic Dies irae from Mozart's Requiem,
performed by Auckland Choral on 9 July 2011. This is now uploaded to
the MP3 Player.
25 July 2011
Previous Women's Uniforms - Own a Piece of History!
Auckland Choral have joined TradeMe! As an introductory special, we are giving you the opportunity to own a piece of history - our previous Women's Uniform is available and you are invited to place your bids now! We have all sizes available from Size 8 to 28. Garments available: Short Skirt, Summer and Winter Tops. There is limited stock of the larger sizes, so please use the Ask a Question feature on TradeMe to check stock before you bid. Click the TradeMe picture above to visit our listings.
21 July 2011
Mozart Requiem: National Business Review,
John Daly-Peoples, Sunday July 17, 2011
Auckland Choral: Singing with the Angels
Auckland Choral continues to present interesting concerts in association with the NZSO, the Auckland Philharmonia and the Pipers Sinfonia, adding an extra dimension to the music available to Aucklanders. In their latest concert “Amadeus,” the main work on the programme was Mozart’s Requiem which they presented with soloists Susanna Risch, Sarah Court, Kenneth Cornish and Chung-Kuang Lin. More....
21 July 2011
Mozart Requiem: NZ Herald Review
William Dart,
11 July 2011
Soloists: Susanna Risch, Sarah Court, Kenneth Cornish, Lin Chung Guang
Pipers Sinfonia, Uwe Grodd, Conductor
"Uwe Grodd introduced Auckland Choral's Amadeus concert with an admission that its title was borrowed from "that famous movie". Accordingly, the first half of the evening was something of a potpourri; Mozart in Miniature, with guest soloists accompanied by Pipers Sinfonia.
After interval, Grodd's approach to the Requiem was hugely dramatic, taking advantage of the city's biggest choir and an augmented Pipers Sinfonia. There was a sense of mystery in the opening Requiem Aeternam while the Kyrie was a vigorous stride, its counterpoint beefed up by busy tromboning. The Dies Irae almost took on Verdi with its evocation of apocalyptic rumblings and tremblings." More....
To see full size photo, click the picture above.
16 July 2011
Change of Soloist for NZSO: 'Ode to Joy' Concert
NZSO recently announced a change of soloist for their upcoming 'Ode to Joy' Concert; Auckland Choral are of course privileged guests in this concert. Wendy Dawn Thompson is no longer singing. New Zealand born Sarah Castle will be singing instead. This change is now reflected on our web site.
25 June 2011
Soloist Kenneth Cornish Closes the Curtain on Illustrious Career
The Mozart Requiem holds a special place in Kenneth Cornish’s heart. Kenneth will be the soloist in the forthcoming performance of Auckland Choral. He debuted as a New Zealand soloist singing the Mozart Requiem with our choir on 19 June 1976. On 9 July 2011 at Auckland Choral’s next concert, this work will also be his last as a professional soloist. Kenneth has indicated that he is closing the curtain on his illustrious soloist career spanning thirty-six years. More....
17 June 2011
Canterbury/Japan Earthquakes
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Christchurch and Japan throughout the events due to the earthquakes in recent times. A number of our choristers have strong family links in Christchurch and Japan and we wish them the best and pray for strength during this time.
25 May 2011
Review: The Journey
Leonie Holmes' The Journey headed the programme when Manukau Symphony Orchestra took the town hall stage on Sunday, as well as giving the concert its title. After interval, the massed voices of Auckland Choral give us Fauré's Cantique de Jean Racine with some passion, against the finely judged organ contribution of John Wells. The composer's Requiem followed. Some might not have warmed to this score being given such a grand treatment, although the bonus of a full-scale setting was a thrilling Dies Irae. More....
23 May 2011
Auckland Choral recently had the privilege of having Reinhard Flatischler (Austria) with us for a series of workshops in the TaKeTiNa Rhythm process which he created in 1970. TaKeTiNa is a unique process capable of activating human and musical potential through rhythm. More....
20 May 2011
If you did not get to the Japan Benefit Concert, we have a selection of photos from the Event.
Auckland Choral was glad to accept the NZ Japanese Society's invitation in their "Wings of Hope" Concert. Click the link to go to the Event photo page. More....
12 May 2011
Uwe Grodd Interview on Concert FM
Listen to an interview on Concert FM which aired on 4 May. Uwe talks about the Japan Benefit Concert which Auckland Choral took part in; and also previews the upcoming concert: The Journey, featuring Fauré Requiem. Click the Radio NZ link above to go to the audio. (If this fails to play in Internet Explorer, try opening the page in Firefox. To download Mozilla Firefox, click here).
28 April 2011
Japan Benefit Concert: "Wings of Hope"
Sunday 8 May 2011 at 6:00PM
The
New Zealand Japanese Society of Auckland in association with the
Japanese Consulate in Auckland and the Auckland Regional Council,
hosted the Wings of Hope Benefit for Japan events.
Auckland Choral gladly accepted their invitation to be a part of this Event at the Auckland Town Hall. The Event was in two parts with a Cultural festival from 1:00PM and the evening Concert from 6:00PM featuring Auckland Choral, organist John Wells, singer Juliagrace, and soprano Lilia Carpinelli, plus many more! For more details click the link or download the flyer. More....
Download Flyer (File Size: 78kb)
Bookings at The Edge
23 April 2011
Easter Special: Handel's Messiah on Concert FM, TONIGHT (23 April) at 8:00PM
This special Music Alive marking Easter is an Auckland performance of Handel’s Messiah from Morag Atchison (soprano), Wendy Dawn Thompson (mezzo), David Hamilton (tenor), Jared Holt (baritone), Auckland Choral and Pipers Sinfonia conducted by Uwe Grodd. Broadcast begins at 8:00PM tonight, 23 April 2011.
This performance was recorded in the Auckland Town Hall by Radio New Zealand in 2009.
16 April 2011
Bookings for "Amadeus" and "Messiah" now open at The Edge
Tickets now on sale at The Edge for the Amadeus and Messiah Concerts. Click the respective Concert to book your tickets now!
12 April 2011
EVENT: Sing Down Under, The New Zealand Choir Tour and Festival
The SingDownunder Festival (formerly the NZ Schools Choral Festival) is an annual July festival primarily designed to attract international youth choirs to compete and tour in New Zealand. More....
9 April 2011
Book Your Tickets for "The Journey"
Tickets now selling for The Journey Concert, featuring Fauré Requiem. Click here to book at The Edge.
4 January 2011
Update: A Special Treat!
The majority of the 2011 Soloist Biographies have been uploaded to the web site and we also have a special treat for you!
We have also uploaded the complete Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah to the Audio Samples section, recorded on 13 December 2010 at Auckland's Town Hall! Click the Audio button or MP3 player picture to listen to the track!
15 December 2010
Review: Handel's Messiah
(William Dart, NZ Herald, 15 December 2010
It was an introduction Uwe Grodd could not resist, before launching Auckland Choral's annual Messiah. If we were lucky enough to be in the Super City with a super mayor, the conductor told us, Auckland could now expect a super Messiah. Tonight there would be no cuts - as Handel intended it. More....
12 December 2010
Preview: Messiah - Home to Sing a Firm Favourite
(William Dart, NZ Herald, 12 December 2010
There was a time when one could only read of Martin Snell's many successes in the opera houses of Europe. Then, in 2008, the New Zealand bass singer returned to thrill us as Jokanaan in Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Salome, followed by appearances in the orchestra's Les Noces and, just last year, in NBR New Zealand Opera's Eugene Onegin.
Now Snell is back for the Messiah season. On Monday and Tuesday, he will tell us of nations raging and trumpets sounding in Auckland Choral's annual presentation of the Handel oratorio. More....
9 December 2010
Auckland Choral Mourns the Passing of Adrienne Simpson (Author)
It was with sadness that we learned two days ago that Adrienne Simpson had lost her battle with cancer on Saturday morning.
For many choir members, you may remember that Adrienne authored the choir’s new history entitled “Hallelujahs & History: Auckland Choral 1855-2005,” one of the four major projects undertaken to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Auckland Choral in 2005. More....
7 December 2010
MP3 Player updated - now includes an excerpt from the Beethoven 9th Symphony "Choral" with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, performed 15 July 2010 at Auckland's Town Hall. Click the Audio button to go to the MP3 player.
8 November 2010
Review: Bach B Minor Mass - Given Monumental Treatment
(William Dart, NZ Herald, 8 November 2010)
The origins of Bach's Mass in B minor might surprise some, considering its undisputed status as a High Baroque masterpiece.
Auckland Choral's Saturday presentation of the work came with an Indra
Hughes triple bonus and, pre-concert, Hughes' authoritative programme
notes laid out the work's extraordinary genesis, patched together during
the last decades of Bach's life from his earlier disparate and often
protestant scores.
During the performance, Hughes' deft organ continuo was the perfect complement to the ripple and thrust of James Tibbles' harpsichord, and the participation of Hughes' Music Sacra singers added confidence and focus to the choral sound.
Whether this work should be sung by a hundred plus choristers is a moot point, as many feel it was intended for solo voices; nevertheless, Auckland Choral director Uwe Grodd went for the monumental in the opening Kyrie eleison. More....
6 November 2010
Preview: Contralto brings her special style to Bach
(William Dart, NZ Herald,
6 November 2010)
In a city well served by mezzos, Kate Spence has her own niche. Her rich contralto voice has her sought after for the musicianship and unerring style that she brings to works such as Bach's Mass in B Minor, which Auckland Choral is performing tonight.
"I started as a little soprano back in 1994," she says, "but I couldn't make headway. It wasn't until I was singing at a Hawkes Bay summer school that I found a way ahead.
"Two of the tutors, Rosemary Gordon and Beatrice Webster, stopped the session, looked at one another and had a bit of talk ... and it was all down hill, or at least down pitch, from there." More....
Where and When:
Auckland Choral - Bach B Minor Mass
Auckland Town Hall
15 September 2010
The remaining Soloist Biographies, (David Hamilton, Elisabeth Holowell and Stephen Bennett) have now been uploaded. Click the link to go to the Soloist Biography section.
28 June 2010
New Photos added to the album! Click the link to the right to go to the album!
31 May 2010
Latest Review: Brahms - Requiem
William Dart: That ardent Wagnerian, George Bernard Shaw, was no fan of the Brahms German Requiem, which he deemed "so execrably dull and ponderous that the very flattest of funerals would seem like a ballet, or at least a danse macabre after it." Auckland Choral put the lie to Shaw's smart sideswipe when its singers delivered the work on Saturday evening under the direction of Uwe Grodd. Major contributors to its success were the full symphonic forces of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, complete with the two harps Brahms asked for, and John Wells working his customary wonders at the organ. More....
6 May 2010
Unsung Heroes: Singing Enthusiast Finds Hidden Talent in Children
Choir teacher Rhondda Garland is serious when she says everyone can sing, or at least hit the right note with her help. "Maybe not like Pavarotti - that's probably a bit too ambitious - but I can certainly help people to keep a reasonable tune," she says. "There are very, very few people who cannot sing. I often get children who sing in a monotone, but they just haven't learned how to get their voices up and down, that's all." More....
23 March 2010
New Zealand Schools Choral Festival
The New Zealand Schools Choral Festival is an annual international high school choral festival and competition where Northern Hemisphere and Australian choirs stay and perform with our New Zealand choirs. We welcome mixed-voice choirs, treble-voice choirs… (our high school choirs are aged 13-18). The festival offers northern hemisphere school choirs a safe, exotic, quality choral summer school joining a large group of Australian, New Zealand other international choirs. This event involves our own Deputy Music Director, David Hamilton.
22 January 2010
Technical Issue: The 2010 Subscription Form
We have been experiencing technical difficulties with the 2010 Subscription Form. If you have submitted the Subscription Form prior to 22 January 2010, we may not have received your details. The issue has been resolved! Please visit the form and resubmit your details in the form for your 2010 Subscription. We will ensure that any possible double up details, are not processed, ensuring that you only subscribed once. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this has caused. We look forward to seeing you during the 2010 Concert Season.
15 December 2009
Latest Review: Handel's Messiah - Daring Flourish Marks End of Successful Year!
William Dart: Auckland Choral's Messiah is a major event in our city's musical life, marking the close of the year's concert season and a particularly successful 12 months for Auckland Choral under the directorship of Uwe Grodd. More....
13 December 2009
NZ Herald: Grodd's directorship of Auckland Choral has revitalised the city's grand old choir, and other groups have surprised and delighted during the year. More....
5 December 2009
Preview: Messiah with Auckland Choral
NZ Herald: Even on a slow week, Uwe Grodd is one of the busiest musicians in town. As well as teaching and conducting duties as associate professor in the University of Auckland's Music Department, he is at the helm of both the Manukau Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Choral. More....
20 November 2009
Auckland Choral 2010 Subscriptions Now Selling!
We are excited to introduce our 2010 choral season. It will be an exceptional year.
This programme invites you to subscribe to a series of concerts that presents some of the greatest choral repertoire with outstanding soloists and orchestras all in the sublime acoustics of the Auckland Town Hall.
The choir’s singing will be passionate, powerful, thrilling, reflective, amazing, fun... just become a subscriber today and find out for yourself. Subscribe and enjoy up to 20% savings and book for the best seats now!
Part of my recipe for an interesting and varied programme is to combine Auckland Choral with the talents of other organisations and I would like to thank the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Pipers Sinfonia, Musica Sacra and St Mary's Schola for performing with us. These groups add a special dimension to our season and we look forward with great anticipation to working with them.
If you would like to introduce a friend to Auckland Choral why not bring them to our FREE concert at the start of the year, ‘Pese Muamua’ — ‘Song Number One’!
I look forward to meeting you at our concerts.
