Nota Bene presents original version of Fauré Requiem

Requiem settings tend to be high-octane. Composers, like the rest of us, are deeply moved by human loss. Versatile Wellington chamber choir Nota Bene, conducted by its music director Peter Walls, is delighted to be presenting one of the loveliest and most moving Requiems in the repertoire at 3pm, Sunday 8 July at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Hill St, Wellington.

Fauré originally composed his celebrated Requiem for a small group of instruments. Nota Bene will explore this version with the distinguished musicians of the Chiesa Ensemble—smaller in scale than the full-orchestra version but no less powerful for that. It has Puccini’s eloquent (but very short) Requiem set alongside it.

To complete the concert, the ensemble will perform Purcell’s Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, which is saturated in wondrously anguished harmonies. By contrast, “O Sing Unto the Lord” and “Rejoice in the Lord Always” (known from its peals of descending scales as “The Bell Anthem”) are uplifting. These anthems with strings delighted the courtiers of Restoration England. Music lovers in 21st century Wellington will find them equally irresistible.

The Chiesa Ensemble is a professional Wellington-based chamber orchestra that began life in the early part of this century as a small group of friends playing sacred choral works with the Bach Choir of Wellington. Led by Rebecca Struthers, it is made up largely of NZSO and Orchestra Wellington colleagues. They enjoy many fine collaborations with other Wellington choirs too, providing style-appropriate accompaniment for a large repertoire of works. This is their first appearance with Nota Bene.

Tickets ($30/$20 and children free) available from Eventfinda and at the door.

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