artscalendar.co.nz newsletter - October 2004

11 October 2004

artscalendar.co.nz newsletter

Greetings from artscalendar.co.nz

Handel's Messiah - unique Baroque performance in Hamilton For the Hamilton Civic Choir's forthcoming gala performance of Messiah, a group of Australasia's best Baroque instrumentalists have been brought together to form a true Baroque orchestra. Playing authentic instruments, they produce a cleaner, lighter sound than that of a modern orchestra, allowing solo voices and choral singing to be clearly heard.

We believe that this is only the second time in New Zealand's musical history that Messiah has been performed with a real Baroque orchestra; it is certainly the first time that Waikato music-lovers have been offered this experience.

Our soloists are all accomplished and experienced exponents of Handel's glorious music. They are Lisette Wesseling, soprano - sometimes described as "New Zealand's Emma Kirkby" - just returned from Europe to live in NZ; well-known Auckland contralto Shelagh Molyneux; John Murray, tenor, who came back to NZ last year and now lives in Tauranga; and experienced Hamilton baritone David Griffiths. All these musical forces will be under the baton of the choir's own Musical Director, Rachael Griffiths-Hughes, herself a specialist in Baroque music - she is relishing the opportunity to interpret Handel's masterpiece, emphasising lightness, drama and precision. More information can be found at www.hamiltoncivicchoir.org.nz on soloists, the conductor, composer and work.

One performance only, Saturday 6 November at the Founders Theatre, Hamilton, at 8.00pm. Bookings through Ticketek

Some exhibitions you might want to check out:

Antarctic Heroes - the race to the South Pole finishing on 24 October at Musuem of New Zealand Te Papa, Wellington. Cupcup: An installation by Thomas Bayrle & students from Massey University's School of Fine Arts until 14 November at The Dowse Museum, Lower Hutt. Work from sculptor, Bekah Carran titled 'Welcome to Paradise' held at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Exhibition running from 25 September to 5 December.

Titan Studio Ware - the ceramic art of Cameron Brown. Showing at the Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre until 5 December 2004. Flora and Fantasy at the Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford. 15 New Zealand artists - all works relate to a garden flower or fantasy theme and will compliment the Taranaki Rhododendron Festival. Held between 15 October and 9 November. At the Milford Galleries, Queenstown until 19 October are works from Joanna Braithwaite. Continuing her exploration of hybrid human and animal forms to address power structures within the natural world. These works are executed with her characteristic use of surrealism, imagination laced with humour.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Keller

ENDS

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