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
Traude has been a choral singer since 1998 and she is the immediate past Chair of Auckland Choral. In this role she has been instrumental in updating the way the organisation operates and she has learnt valuable lessons about running a voluntary, community based organisation - something she feels very passionate about. As a health professional running her own business, she is aware of the many positive effects that choral singing has on one's well-being - physically, mentally and socially. 
Colleen Elliott joined Auckland Choral in 1999. She comes from a musical background starting with piano at aged 7 which also included being a foundation member of the Whangarei Childrens Choir formed by her Mother in the mid 1950’s. Colleen passed LTCL performers in piano but never completed it as the desire to sing became more the focus and formal vocal training commenced.
Hi, I’m Alison Miller. I have been singing all my life, as both my parents had good voices, and we followed in their footsteps. I’ve sung in both church and community choirs, but when I was a pupil in the EGGS choir, we sang the third chorus part in St Matthew Passion in the Town Hall with Ray Wilson conducting and I was smitten. Years later when we returned to Auckland, and heard Auckland Choral singing Brubeck’s Light in the Wilderness in 1969, I knew I had to belong to this magnificent choir.. I joined in 1970 as a soprano 1, and have been a member since then, with the first concert being Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, with 6 weeks rehearsal time. 
