Orchestra Wellington’s Carmina Burana a grand finale

Orchestra Wellington’s Carmina Burana a grand finale

7:30pm, Saturday November 15
Michael Fowler Centre

Orchestra Wellington conducted by Marc Taddei

Featuring: Emma Fraser, soprano, Henry Choo, tenor, James Clayton, baritone, The Orpheus Choir of Wellington and Wellington Young Voices Choir

Haydn Symphony No.87, A major
Orff Carmina Burana

Free pre-concert talk with Music Director, Marc Taddei at 6:30pm

Orchestra Wellington finishes its 2014 season in resounding style with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. The cantata opens with one of the most famous passages in classical music. The massed choir chants “O Fortuna” at full volume over an accompaniment of orchestral power chords while the timpani pound out a beat like the engine room of the Titanic. It would be a jaded listener indeed who could resist this excitement.

But the work offers a great deal more than rousing choruses. The composer selected texts ranging from witty to wistful from a long-lost collection of poems known as the Codex Buranus, or Book of Baern. They were written by medieval monks who were well-travelled, worldly, educated and more than a little subversive. Their poems celebrate the arrival of Spring, the pleasures of wine, riotous scenes in a tavern and the joys and sorrows of love and courtship. Orff’s music sparkles with imagination and theatricality, contrasting exquisite vocal solos with powerful orchestral and choral climaxes.

The orchestra has been traversing all of Haydn’s Paris symphonies this year. The last one, No 87, opens with great brio. Haydn proves himself a master of suspense and surprise, as well as displaying his gift for exquisite melodies.

Soloists:
Emma Fraser, soprano.
Emma was a 2011 Young Artist Scholar with New Zealand Opera, following study at the prestigious Australian Opera Studio in Perth and a spell of freelancing in the UK which included performances in the role of Susana in The Marriage of Figaro. She currently lives in Sydney and sings for Opera Australia. Fraser was the soprano soloist for Orchestra Wellington’s performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in 2012.

"Soprano Emma Fraser was a star, her voice radiant and glowing throughout"
Review: Capital Times, 2nd May 2012. Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Wellington Vector Orchestra.

Henry Choo, Tenor
Born abroad but raised and schooled in Melbourne, Henry Choo is known as one of Australia’s finest lyric coloratura tenors. He is an alumnus of both the Young Artist Program of Opera Queensland and the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Development Program of Opera Australia. Henry's concert profile has been impressive and varied, having performed in concert with Susan Graham (under the baton of Edo de Waart), the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, the Australia Ensemble, the Australian Army Band, the Three Chinese Tenors and the Three Australian Tenors.

"Tenor Henry Choo's voice as Nadir blossomed with colour and honey sweetness as soon as he opened his mouth.” Review: Peter McCallum, Sydney Morning Herald 2012

James Clayton, Baritone
James Clayton is one the leading singers to emerge from Western Australia in recent years; he became a Young Artist with West Australian Opera in 2006 and 2007. James’ many roles for West Australian Opera have included the title role in The Marriage of Figaro, The King in Aida, Ashby in La Fanciulla del West, Nourabad in The Pearl Fishers, Schaunard in La Bohème, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Steersman in Tristan und Isolde and Marullo in Rigoletto. He last appeared in Wellington to sing José Tripaldi in Ainadamar during the International Arts Festival.

“His voice..a resonating bronze instrument with excellent phrasing and articulation….with beautifully judged legato and caressing of the words.” Review: Sandra Bowdler, Opera Britannia

Tickets from Ticketek 0800 842 538 Service fee will apply
$16.50 student to $56.50 A Reserve Adult

For more information visit www.orchestrawellington.co.nz

ENDS

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