It is with quite some excitement that I introduce this year’s programme featuring
a dramatic Haydn mass, Bruckner, Mahler, a substantial new work by David
Hamilton and, of course, Messiah.
David Hamilton echoes both the grief and the joy of soldiers coming home
from WWI in his new work written especially for mezzo soprano Kate Spence and
Auckland Choral. We are proudly continuing our tradition of first performances
with this work by one of New Zealand’s finest composers.
I have huge admiration for Haydn’s last six masses, written for the Esterházy
family to celebrate the name day of Princess Maria Hermenegild, wife of Prince
Nikolaus II. The Nelson Mass is charged with emotion, particularly fear for Austria
as Napoleon’s madness sweeps through Europe and as far as Egypt, where
his fleet lost to Admiral Nelson. We will use the mass’ original scoring for three
trumpets, timpani, strings, organ, four soloists and choir to bring to our listeners
the layers of the earliest performances.
Richard Wagner introduced Bruckner to the magic world of orchestral colour,
significantly influencing his first major work, the Mass No. 1 in D minor. There is
little point in speculating why he chose this particular key which plays such an
important part in music history and is the key to some of the most exceptional
works, including Beethoven’s last symphony, Mozart’s Requiem and Queen of
the Night Aria and, of course, Bach’s famous organ Toccata. Bruckner had huge
admiration for Bach and both composers were exceptional organists. We are
indeed proud to be presenting Bruckner’s Mass No. 1, the choir’s first performance
of this powerful work, in collaboration with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Mahler was strongly influenced by Bruckner - despite never formally being
his student - and he carried the high romantic tradition into the 20th century
when finishing the final revisions of his second symphony in 1903. The symphony is
generously scored for a large orchestra and Auckland Choral is excited to be the
chorus for this momentous work.
Uwe Grodd, Music Director
Haydn Nelson Mass
Hamilton Homecoming
Saturday 4 May
Holy Trinity Cathedral, 7.30pm
Bach, Bruckner,
Auckland Choral, APO
Sunday 15 September
Auckland Town Hall, 5.00pm
Handel Messiah
Monday 16 December
Tuesday 17 December
Auckland Town Hall, 7.30pm
Mahler Symphony No. 2
NZSO
Saturday 23 November
Auckland Town Hall, 7.30pm