Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor | Bruckner Motets: Ave Maria, Os Justi Meditabitur, Virga Jesse | Bach Concerto for Violin in A minor | Bruckner Mass in D minor
Majestic Bruckner, woefully unsure of himself, worried that his music was insufficient in the eyes of God and the public. He needn’t have worried, his Mass in D minor, pure and spiritually uplifting, was favourably received when he conducted the première, and the inscription on the score ‘Omnia ad majorem Dei gloriam’ – All to the greater glory of God was a clear indication of his intentions. With their reverence and passion, Bruckner’s Motets also express his devout beliefs and are a highly powerful and moving experience.
Both Bach and Bruckner wrote music in honour of God – one within the German Lutheran tradition, the other an Austrian Catholic. Bach often wrote on his manuscripts Soli Deo Gloria – Only for the Glory of God. As an intimate contrast to Bruckner’s intricate musical structures, Andrew Beer and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra present the richly lyrical Violin Concerto in A minor by Bach. Bruckner, a celebrated organist, admired Bach’s Motets and organ music greatly. The concert begins with one of the most famous pieces of Baroque organ music– with a particularly iconic opening: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
Uwe Grodd conductor
Isabella Moore soprano
Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano
Robert Macfarlane tenor
Joel Amosa bass
Andrew Beer violin
Dr Philip Smith organ
Auckland Choral
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Sunday 15 September, 5.00pm
Auckland Town Hall
ticketmaster.co.nz
09 970 9700
Like so many contraltos, I first got put in the alto section as a school girl because I could read music and manage to sing a line of harmony. I joined Auckland Choral when I was in high school and now I’ve been a member for 40 years! I started singing with my mum as a toddler, sitting on her knee while she played the piano and sang soprano and tenor Messiah arias. I used to come to Auckland Choral’s Saturday dress rehearsals in the Town Hall and follow the score in my early teenage years, and it was a natural step to join Mum in the choir when I was 15. I remember Choral Hall in Airedale Street where we used to meet (before Mayoral Drive was built). It was a dusty old building and freezing in winter, but the ladies in the alto section were very kind to me and welcomed me into the back row. Nothing really changes in that respect; the Auckland Choral altos today are a great bunch of people as well!
Garnet has a long involvement with Auckland Choral after his first introduction to singing in Lead Roles in Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas at Kings High School in Dunedin,followed by being a member of Capping Sextet at Otago University with Sir William Southgate in the 1960s.
I joined late last year in the Soprano 1 section, and am currently Auckland Choral’s youngest member, at 14 years old. Born and raised in Auckland, I have worked with professional music companies such as New Zealand Opera, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Opera Factory, and others. Auckland Choral rehearsals are generally the highlight of my week. In 2015 I gained first place in Opera Factory’s Idol competition. This year in the Aria international vocal competition, I came 1st in two of the four categories available. Outside of music, I study in year 10 at Kristin School in Albany, and I play flute and piano. 
