Auckland Wind Orchestra Performs French Music

In brief, for community diary listings The Auckland Wind Orchestra presents a programme of French music at the new Raye Freedman Arts Centre in Epsom. Christine Chang is the flute soloist and Dr David G. Hebert is the conductor.

Tickets are $15 or, for students and seniors, $10. The concert starts at 7.30pm on Saturday 9 April. The theatre is located near the Southern Motorway at the corner of Gillies Ave and Silver Rd.

Christine Chang.

In full

“Outstanding New Theatre” to host a Feast of French Music

Popular French classics are on offer at a festival to launch the brand new Raye Freedman Arts Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar School. On Saturday 9 April, the Auckland Wind Orchestra will perform works by Debussy, Milhaud, Fauré and Chaminade – composers whose works embody the beauty, colour and wit of French music. The orchestra's conductor, American Dr David G. Hebert predicts that within a few years the new arts centre will become one of the most popular performance venues in Auckland.

“We are all impressed with the stage design and acoustics,” he says. “It is exciting to hear that the Auckland Wind Orchestra will be among the first groups to perform a concert in this outstanding new theatre”. The Raye Freedman Arts Centre Opening Festival runs for six nights in early April and includes music, theatre and cultural events.

At the Auckland Wind Orchestra's concert, Christine Chang is the soloist in Cecile Chaminade's memorable Concertino for Flute. The beautifully ornamented flute part is a great challenge, but allows a talented performer such as Chang to shine.

Another highlight on the programme is Darius Milhaud's Suite Francaise. Hebert describes the suite as a landmark contribution to the wind orchestra repertoire. He says, “it features a variety of atmospheres and attractive melodies, depicting scenes from the various provinces of France.”

Also included in the selection are Claude Debussy's Petite Suite, themes from Maurice Jarre's score for Lawrence of Arabia, a moving highlight from Gabriel Fauré's Requiem and picturesque settings of Scenes from “The Louvre”. Hebert says that each work on the programme is attractive in its own way, with deep and lasting value.

The Auckland Wind Orchestra differs from a conventional orchestra in that sections of flutes and clarinets take the place of string instruments. Hebert says that the wind orchestra tradition is actually quite long, and many noted composers have contributed to its development, including Mozart, Purcell, Holst and Strauss.

Guest quintet Wonder Brass will make an appearance at the concert. The group features trumpeters Peter Reid and David Hebert, horn player David Kay, trombonist Hamish Arthur and tuba player Peter Thomas.

The concert starts at 7.30pm on Saturday 9 April. Tickets are $15 or, for seniors and students, $10 – call 021 336 063 for reservations. The nearby Southern Motorway and Gillies Avenue off-ramp makes access convenient. Parking is available on Silver Rd.

Auckland Wind Orchestra Background The orchestra is a non-profit organisation governed by an incorporated society which was formed in 1972. The Auckland Wind Orchestra is associated with the Auckland Youth Symphonic Band, a group that performs in schools to promote interest in music and wind instruments.

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