11 February 2022 - 0 Comments

Bach Musica NZ returns this year with a full season of concerts showcasing the remarkable talents of New Zealand’s only combined choir and orchestra. The 2022 season with seven concerts across the year will take audiences on a musical journey around the globe with music that will enrich and inspire.

Kicking off the 2022 season on 26 March, Bach Musica NZ present their Opera Gala, a spectacular celebration of opera across three nights at St-Matthew-in-the-City. A rare chance to see Bach Musica NZ perform in this stunning church acoustic, this Opera Gala includes arias, choruses, and scenes from some of the greatest operas ever written: Tosca and Madama Butterfly (Puccini), La Traviata and Nabucco (Verdi), Peter Grimes (Britten), Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni), and Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss). The programme for this Opera Gala was designed by the talented Lindy Tennent-Brown, who will also be the pianist. There will now be three performances with a line-up of internationally renowned soloists - sopranos Amelia Berry and Amanda Atlas, mezzo Sarah Court, tenor Patrick Power and baritone James Harrison. Also featured are up-and-coming NZ stars soprano Alexandra Francis and tenor Taylor Wallbank and Murray Shaw in the role of Master of Ceremony. The Bach Musica NZ chorus will be conducted by Rita Paczian.

The rest of this year's magnificent programme, which will take place at the Auckland Town Hall’s Great Hall, are conducted by the exceptionally gifted Conductor and Music Director of Bach Musica NZ, Rita Paczian. After opening in March, the programme continues in April with a performance of Schumann’s Requiem (NZ premiere), Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto. In July the ensemble will perform Handel’s dramatic Baroque oratorio Samson. In September audiences can witness a world premiere of the 2019 Symphony by Hungarian composer Gabor Tolnay, Piazzolla’s famous tangos Adiós Nonino & Escolaso, and Duruflé’s sublime Requiem in its version for full symphony orchestra, chorus and soloists. The season comes to a close in December with a concert titled Best of Bach. It includes his Magnificat, Violin Concert in E, Flute Concerto and the triumphant opening chorus from his Christmas Oratorio.

“After two years of disrupted performances we are eager to bring our legendary Music for the Soul back to you. In spite of Omicron we have started rehearsals again, and our three Opera Gala concerts will go ahead, even at alert level RED. It is time to bring music back into the lives of all of us!” – Conductor and Music Director, Rita Paczian.

Alongside its concert series, Bach Musica NZ also presents four workshops throughout the year for music enthusiasts of all levels to learn from the best in a fun and supportive environment. 2022’s workshops include a Conducting Workshop on 26 February, Singing Workshops on 28 May (Rutter Requiem) and 29 October (Schubert Mass in G Major), and a Sight-Reading Workshop on 11 June.

Bach Musica NZ’s full programme can be found here.

https://www.bachmusica.com/

BACH MUSICA NZ 2022 PROGRAMME:

Opera Gala
Saturday 26 March 2022 at 8pm – St-Matthew-in-the-City
Sunday 27 March 2022 at 3pm – St-Matthew-in-the-City
Monday 28 March 2022 at 7.30pm – St-Matthew-in-the-City (additional concert!)
Tickets: $50 available via iTicket.

Amelia Berry, Amanda Atlas & Francis Alexander Sopranos
Sarah Court Mezzo soprano
Patrick Power & Taylor Wallbank Tenors
James Harrison Baritone
Murray Shaw MC
Bach Musica NZ Vocal Ensemble conducted by Rita Paczian
Lindy Tennent-Brown APiano
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Schumann Requiem (NZ premiere), Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez, Vivaldi Guitar Concerto
Sunday 10 April 2022 at 5pm
Auckland Town Hall
Tickets: $30-$70 available via Ticketmaster.

Barkin Sertkaya Guitar
Anna Simmons Soprano
Katie Trigg Alto
Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono Tenor
Angus Simmons Bass
Rita Paczian Conductor

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Handel Samson
Sunday 3 July 2022 at 5pm
Auckland Town Hall
Tickets $30-$70 available via Ticketmaster.

Joanna Foote Soprano
Kate Spence Alto
Andrew Grenon Tenor
Joel Amosa Bass
Samuel McKeever Bass
Rita Paczian Conductor

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Tolnay 2019 Symphony (world premiere), Piazzolla Adiós Nonino & Escolaso, Duruflé Requiem
Sunday 18 September 2022 at 5pm
Auckland Town Hall
Tickets: $30-$70 available via Ticketmaster.

Rita Paczian Conductor
Stephanie Poole Accordion
Elisha Hulton Mezzo
Robert Tucker Baritone
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Best of Bach
Magnificat, Violin Concert in E, Flute Concerto, Jauchzet from Christmas Oratorio
Sunday 11 December 2022 at 5pm
Auckland Town Hall
Tickets: $30-$70 available via Ticketmaster.

Yanghe Yu Violin
Luca Manghi Flute
Elizabeth Mandeno Soprano
Wendy Dawn Thompson Alto
Iain Tetley Tenor
James Harrison Baritone
Rita Paczian Conductor

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