Monday 27 April 4.00pm
(Anzac public holiday)
Auckland Town Hall
Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace has become one of the most performed choral works of our time – an unforgettable call for peace written at the turn of the new millennium. Drawing on texts from many faiths and cultures, Jenkins traces a journey from the anticipation of battle to the devastation of war and the hope of reconciliation. Combining the grandeur of a traditional Mass with cinematic power and emotional immediacy, it speaks directly to audiences of every generation. Its bold rhythms, soaring melodies, and moments of haunting stillness create a profoundly human reflection on conflict and unity.
For this performance, Auckland Choral joins forces with Auckland City Brass and their conductor Mark Close in a powerful arrangement for choir and brass band. Complementing the main work are two New Zealand pieces: David Hamilton’s A Call to Arms for baritone, choir, and brass band, and Fendall Hill’s Perspectives from Gallipoli. Together, these works form a stirring programme of remembrance, resilience, and peace.
Fendall Hill Perspectives From Gallipoli
David Hamilton A Call To Arms
Karl Jenkins The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace
Auckland Choral
Madeleine Pierard Soprano
Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono Baritone
Auckland City Brass
Uwe Grodd Conductor
Sunday 11 October 5.00pm
Auckland Town Hall
Few works confront the tragedy of war with such scope and intensity as Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. Written for the 1962 consecration of Coventry Cathedral – rebuilt after its destruction in World War II – it stands as one of the twentieth century’s most ambitious choral masterpieces. Britten interweaves the Latin Mass for the Dead with the piercing poetry of Wilfred Owen, who was killed in the final week of World War I. In doing so, Britten creates a dialogue between the sacred and the human, between acts of faith and the realities of futility.
Scored for soprano, tenor, and baritone soloists, two orchestras, children’s choir, and large symphonic chorus, the War Requiem is both monumental in scale and deeply personal in message. From its haunting opening to its final plea for peace, the work remains a searing reminder of the cost of conflict and the enduring hope for reconciliation. Auckland Choral is joined by the Auckland Youth Choir and Cantare Choir of Westlake Girls in this powerful presentation of Britten’s visionary masterpiece.
Benjamin Britten War Requiem
Felicity Tomkins Soprano
Kyle Stegall Tenor
James Harrison Baritone
Auckland Choral
Auckland Youth Choir
Cantare Westlake Girls High School
Pipers Sinfonia
Uwe Grodd Conductor
Sunday 29 November 4.30pm
St Matthew-in-the-City
Join Auckland Choral for a heartwarming evening of festive music that captures the joy, reflection, and community spirit of the season. This year’s programme blends traditional carols with music by beloved contemporary composers. Expect to sing along to popular Christmas carols, experience moments of quiet beauty, and revel in the exuberant energy of choral music at its finest.
With instrumentalists and featured vocal soloists joining the choir, this concert offers something for everyone – from long-time supporters to first-time audience members. Perfect for a summer’s evening, Sing Christmas is a celebration of togetherness, music-making, and Auckland’s rich choral tradition. Gather family and friends and start the festive season with an inspiring concert filled with warmth, harmony, and holiday cheer.
This event was hugely popular in 2025 and sold out. Get your tickets soon!
Uwe Grodd Conductor
Guest artists to be announced in 2026
Sunday 13 December 5.00pm
Monday 14 December 7.00pm
Auckland Town Hall
For more than 170 years, Auckland Choral’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah has been a cornerstone of the city’s festive season. Since its first performance in Dublin in 1742, this extraordinary oratorio has inspired audiences worldwide with its enduring message of hope, renewal, and joy. Originally composed for Easter, Messiah has become inseparable from Christmas celebrations, its majestic choruses and expressive arias capturing the spirit of the season like no other work. From the triumph of the “Hallelujah” Chorus to the tender beauty of “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth”, Handel’s music continues to unite generations in shared wonder and reflection.
Performed in the grandeur of the Auckland Town Hall, this cherished tradition brings together choir, orchestra, and soloists in a stirring celebration of music and community. Join Auckland Choral as we honour this tradition and experience the enduring power of one of the greatest masterpieces ever written.
Soloists to be announced in Spring 2026
Pipers Sinfonia
Uwe Grodd Conductor