Richard Apperley’s final NZ organ recital

Richard Apperley’s final New Zealand organ recital Friday 10 December 2004, 12.45pm, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, entry by Koha.

Wellington based organist Richard Apperley is moving to the United Kingdom in January 2005 to pursue his career as an organist, and this recital on Friday 10 December marks his last New Zealand solo appearance.

Described by Michael Fulcher, Director of Music at Wellington Cathedral, as an ‘inspired and flexible’ organist, Richard has had the pleasure of working with many local groups in a wide variety of styles, whether it be a concert of music for band and organ with the Pelorus Trust Brass Band or premiering a work by Jack Body for organ, wine glasses, ney, Persian chanter and singer. He has a passion for New Zealand music and has made every effort to promote New Zealand organ works through performance and recording, cataloguing and the publishing of two volumes of music including works by Douglas Lilburn, Douglas Mews, David Farquhar, Tecwyn Evans and more.

In this concert he will present two New Zealand Christmas works – Variations on “Mendelssohn” (Hark the Herald Angels Sing) by Maughan Barnett and two Christmas Fantasias by Andrew Perkins. Maughan Barnett is a composer and organist from the early 20th century who played a prominent role in the New Zealand music scene. The only existing manuscript was Barnett’s own performance edition and is incomplete. Timothy Hurd has prepared a playable version of this. This concert will also feature Marcel Dupré’s famous Variations sur un Noël and Charles Ives’ Adeste Fidelis in an Organ Prelude.

Do not miss this opportunity to hear one of New Zealand’s finest young organists in his final recital before moving to the United Kingdom. All proceeds from this recital will go towards Richard’s travel costs to help him begin his new life in England.

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