A full-on Six Months for Oriana

Between now and the end of 2022, the Oriana Choir is certainly not allowing any grass to grow under its collective feet. There are three major events taking place, in July, August and November. All classical, all wonderful music, all exciting and uplifting! A veritable feast of sublime sounds, to warm your heart and enliven your spirit.

FAURE REQUIEM and HAYDN ‘NELSON’ MASS – ORIANA CHOIR with THE SINFONIA OF ST ANDREW’S

French composer Gabriel Faure’s Requiem in D minor is one of the tenderest and loveliest of all Requiems. It is remarkably melodic, with exquisite orchestration that complements the delicate choral arrangements, without ever over-riding them. It is an abbreviated version of the requiem form, consisting of just seven movements. But it has a lightness that is almost ethereal at times, especially in the Pie Jesu and In Paradisum. An altogether lovely, delightful work, which is lovely to hear, and a pleasure to perform.

By contrast, Joseph Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis (Mass for Troubled Times) – known colloquially as the ‘Nelson Mass’, is a considerably more dramatic work. The choral sound is bigger than in the Faure work, and yet it is still beautifully articulate. Its nickname can be traced back to its first ever public performance, when Haydn and his audience learned that Napoleon had been soundly defeated by Admiral Nelson’s forces at the Battle of the Nile. The ‘Lord Nelson Mass’ soon became abbreviated to simply ‘Nelson Mass’.

It has been described as ‘arguably, Haydn’s greatest single composition.’

Performances:

July 10th - St Patrick's Church, Gympie (Faure Requiem & Cantique de Jean Racine)

July 16th - St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane

July 17th - Stella Maris School, Maroochydore

Bookings open soon.

CHORAL WORKSHOP WEEKEND with GRAHAM ABBOTT

Renowned conductor, music educator, and former ABC Classic presenter Graham Abbott will be conducting a weekend of choral instruction and rehearsal in August, culminating in a performance on the Sunday at Stella Maris. Graham is a delight to work with. Oriana experienced this first hand when he was guest conductor for a ‘Sing QSO’ session a number of years ago. The pieces chosen for the workshop are Mozart’s Te Deum and Sancta Maria, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Participation is open to anyone who is involved or interested in choral music.

Details regarding registration for this event, cost etc will be advised in due course.

Workshop dates:

August 27th and 28th

Stella Maris School, Maroochydore

HAYDN’S THE CREATION – ORIANA CHOIR with THE BRISBANE CHORALE and THE BRISBANE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

This marvellous oratorio, recognised as one of the ‘Big Three’ (together with Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah), will be presented at Venue 114, Bokarina, and Brisbane City Hall. Haydn was inspired to write The Creation, after having heard some of Handel’s oratorios performed by large ensembles. It is based on the account of the creation of the world as described in the biblical book of Genesis, but also draws inspiration from passages in the Psalms, and John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost. It features soloists portraying the angels Raphael (bass) and Gabriel (soprano), and the first human beings, Adam and Eve.

Performances:

November 13th - Venue 114, Bokarina

November 20th - City Hall, Brisbane

Come to one. Come to all! A splendid time is guaranteed.