Government House Concert returns with a boom

Government House Concert returns with a boom for “The Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House” on Saturday 5 March 2011.

A 17-gun salute on on Queen’s Wharf will announce the return of the Vector Wellington Orchestra’s hugely popular Government House Gardens concert in 2011.

At 1pm on Saturday (October 30), Wellington’s Saturday calm will be enlivened by a salvo of 17 shots celebrating next year’s Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House.

“We’re delighted that The Dominion Post has come on board to support this event, which Wellingtonians enjoy so much,” VWO general manager Diana Marsh says. “It’s something to celebrate.”

VWO music director Marc Taddei will be on hand to conduct the guns and announce the orchestra’s return to Government House.

“It takes 17 cannon to play the Tchaikovsky’s 1812, the spectacular overture that traditionally ends the VWO’s Government House garden concerts,” Marc explains.

“The Government House concerts have been sorely missed by Wellington music lovers in the past two years,” he says. “They were sold out in previous years, but we had to pause the concerts while Government House was closed for a major conservation project two years ago.

“We’re delighted that the project is at a stage where the concerts may return to the grounds next March,” he says.

The concert will feature soloists Aivale Cole, soprano, and Ben Makisi, tenor. The irrepressible Kate Mead will host.

Dominion Post General Manager Paul Elenio said the newspaper was supporting the concert because it is one of the city’s iconic arts events which is hugely popular with readers.

“We are delighted the orchestra is resuming the concerts and that the Governor-General has agreed to allow the grounds to be used. It promises to be another wonderful occasion. Hopefully the weather will play its part.”

The Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House is a picnic event. Tickets include a Wishbone picnic lunch and wine with support from Pernod Ricard.

Saturday’s cannon salute will in fact be two volleys. The annual celebration to mark the birthday of James Cook will involve three cannon at midday, and the 17 gun salute for the orchestra will take place at 1pm.

Bryan “Gunner” Townsend, leader of the gunnery team, will bring the guns to the waterfront as a salute to “AK”, one of his team who has sadly passed away since the last Government House concert. “This is really AK’s salute to his friends and the 1812 Overture. He was our timekeeper for the guns at the concert.”

Tickets for The Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House go on sale from Monday 8 November at 9am.

Details
The Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House
Saturday 5 March (rain day 6 March)
2.00pm (gates open from midday)

/ENDS

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