Welcome to our 2018 Season.
VOYAGE OF VOICES
This concert showcases two outstanding youth choirs and demonstrates how choral music brings us together, connecting people from opposite ends of the world. The program celebrates the beauty and power of the human voice, the talent and promise of youth and both the simplicity and complexity of a cappella choral music.
Saturday 24th February, 5pm
Christ Church St Laurence
Sunday 25th February, 3pm
St Patricks Cathedral, Parramatta
PROGRAM
Matthew Orlovich Butterflies dance
Paul Stanhope Ban.Garay from Jandamarra
Luke Byrne Desert Sea
Dan Walker midwinter
Ross Edwards Mountain Chant
Ruth McCall Waltzing Matilda
Arvo Pärt Bogoroditse Djevo (Mother of God and Virgin)
Arvo Pärt Morning Star
Arvo Pärt The Woman with the Alabaster Box (Trad.) Arranged by Moses Hogan Battle of Jericho
Ola Gjeilo Unicornis Captivatur
Martin Gore (arr. By Eric Whitacre) Enjoy the Silence
Tõnu Korvits Peegeldused tasasest maast (Reflections from a plain land)
Pärt Uusberg Õhtul (In the Evening)
Dan Walker Dusk
Pärt Uusberg Muusika (Music)
ARTISTS
Elizabeth Scott conductor
Külli Lokko conductor
Kärolin Orav conductor
VOX
E STuudio Noortekoor
BACH B MINOR MASS
Bach’s Mass in B minor stands alongside his St. Matthew and St. John Passion’s as one of his major contributions to the music of Christian worship. Too long for all but the most grandly festive service of worship, Bach’s B Minor Mass presents a marvellous compendium of his musical and instrumental styles. Virtuosic solo arias with brilliant parts for solo instruments match exciting, powerful and expressive choruses, all illustrating the meaning of the text.
Saturday 31st March, 1pm
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
PROGRAM
Johann Sebastian Bach Mass in B Minor BWV 232
ARTISTS
Brett Weymark conductor
Janet Todd soprano
Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano
Andrew Goodwin tenor
David Greco baritone
Symphony Chorus
Chamber Singers
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra
HAYDN THE CREATION
Joseph Haydn’s visionary masterpiece depicts nothing less than the creation of the universe, in music of sublime imagination and power. The Creation has remained a much-anticipated highlight of choral seasons ever since, a festive delight to hear and to sing, resplendent with optimism, grace and grandeur.
Saturday 26 May, 5pm
Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall
PROGRAM
Franz Joseph Haydn The Creation Hob.XXI:2
ARTISTS
Brett Weymark conductor
Taryn Fiebig soprano
Nicholas Jones tenor
Jud Arthur bass
Festival Chorus
The Metropolitan Orchestra
CHORUSOZ – SAUL
With Saul Handel first achieved the full potential of English oratorio. Saul vastly expanded the scale and importance of a genre Handel was virtually inventing for England, dramatic oratorio on a biblical subject, with dramatic interaction and development of characters, rich instrumental resources, and an unprecedented importance for the chorus as commentator and participant in the drama. Saul paved the way for such later Handel masterpieces as Samson, Solomon and Jephtha, and no Handel oratorio is more impressive.
Sunday 10 June, 5pm
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
PROGRAM
George Frideric Handel Saul
ARTISTS
Brett Weymark Conductor
Lorina Gore Merab
Penelope Mills Michal
Nicholas Tolputt David
Brad Cooper Jonathan| Witch of Endor |High Priest
Simon Lobelson Saul | The Apparition of Samuel
ChorusOz Choir
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra
PATH OF MIRACLES
Path of Miracles is inspired by the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage also known as The Way of St James, which takes various routes to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella, with the main one beginning in Roncesvalles in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Path of Miracles, which is written in four movements, references four of the major posts along the way that Talbot saw when he visited sections of the pilgrimage: the abbey at Roncesvalles, and the cathedrals of Burgos, León and Santiago itself, with each movement taking its name from the place.
Friday 17 August, 8pm
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta
Saturday 18 August, 8pm
St Mary’s Cathedral Crypt, Sydney
PROGRAM
Joby Talbot Path of Miracles
ARTISTS
Brett Weymark conductor
Chamber Singers
CANDIDE
From its rollicking overture to its string of affectionate parodies of opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, tango and Broadway glitz, Candide is a delight from start to finish. Celebrate the Bernstein centenary with this rarely performed production, featuring a stunning overture and showpieces like ‘Glitter and Be Gay’.
Saturday 29 September, 8pm
Sunday 30 September, 1pm
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
PROGRAM
Leonard Bernstein Candide
Book by Hugh Wheeler after Voltaire,
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein
Orchestrations by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay;
Musical continuity and additional orchestrations by John Mauceri with a narration for concert version by Leonard Bernstein and John Wells
Adapted from the satire by Voltaire and the book by Hugh Wheeler; edited and supplemented by Erik Haagensen
ARTISTS
Caroline O’Connor The Old Lady
Alexander Lewis Candide
Annie Aitken Cunégonde
Phillip Scott Pangloss
Kanen Breen Maximilian
Katherine Allen Paquette
Nicholas Jones Baron, Bear-Keeper, Governor, Crook and others
Adam Player Doctor, Captain, Vanderdendur and others
Andrew Dickson, Elora Ledger and Rebecca MacCallion from Pacific Opera
Brett Weymark Conductor
Mitchell Butel Director
Amy Campbell Assistant Director/Choreographer
Brendan de la Hay Production Designer
Lyndal Tuckey Design Associate
Sam Weller Assistant Conductor
Sarah Penicka-Smith Assistant Conductor
Dan Cottier Assistant to Director
Symphony Chorus
Festival Chorus
Sydney Youth Orchestra
CAROLS AT THE HOUSE
An elegant celebration of Christmas on a symphonic scale featuring the 500 voices of the combined Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and full orchestra.
Sunday 9 June, 5pm
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall