As Music Director it is my privilege to introduce to you our enticing mix of composers and performers for 2017.
When Johann Sebastian Bach was appointed music director to St Thomas’ s Church in 1723 he had to sign a statement in which he agreed to avoid the‘ Theatrical Style’. Bach loved the opera of the day and showed his superior talent of composition for drama, story and theatre in his passions and cantatas. I closely relate to Gottfried Ephraims Scheibel’ s statement,“ I do not know why opera alone should have the privilege of squeezing tears from us; why is that not true in the church?” When I first heard the St John
Passion at the Bach Akademie Stuttgart as a teenager I was so deeply moved to a point that still resonates with me today.
The inspiring programme of our special tribute In Flanders Fields – Passchendaele 100 places new music by young New Zealanders alongside romantic works by Belgians César Franck and Eugène Ysaÿe, and French composer Duruflé’ s serene Requiem.
The greatest of all Romantic oratorios, Mendelssohn’ s epic Elijah is headed by Kiwi-Swiss superstar bass Martin Snell singing the dramatically expressive title role.
Mendelssohn’ s majestic score will leave you deeply touched and elated and in 2017 we are thrilled to be performing a work that was very much the Messiah of its day.
Our 2017 Christmas welcomes the return of our annual performance of Handel’ s glorious masterpiece, Messiah. Just as gripping and meaningful today as it was at its premiere in 1742, you will hear a fine quartet of soloists and Handel’ s joyously exhilarating choruses in the sumptuous acoustics of our treasured Town Hall.
Uwe Grodd Music Director
Photo: Charles Brooks