Baroque concerts some of the first performed in restored heritage church

The splendour and opulence of Baroque music will fill the newly restored Knox Church to the eaves in some of the first concerts ever to be played there since it reopened.

In association with Beca, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra kicks off the Baroque Festival on the 9th May with the first concert of the series, Splendour. The concert will focus on the music of Handel, a great favourite of English monarchs back in the 18th century, and features CSO Principal Harp Helen Webby. It will be followed by Opulence on the 13th May, also in Knox, with the CSO’s Principal Flute Anthony Ferner and Principal Trumpet Thomas Eves playing solos in Vivaldi’s “La Notte” and Torelli’s Trumpet Concerto in D major for Trumpet, Strings and Continuo.

The CSO will be joined by the University of Canterbury’s choir, Consortia, for the third and final concert, Brilliance, on 16th May, in the Church of St Michael and All Angels, featuring the music of Bach. Also in the concert are soloists Anna Hoetjes (Soprano), Barbara Graham (Soprano), Claire Barton (Mezzo Soprano), Henry Choo (Tenor), and James Clayton (Bass).

“I am always amazed at how progressive and modern these works sound,” said CSO Chief Conductor Benjamin Northey. “Over the years, I have made my own editions of some Baroque music and this festival gave me the chance to assemble suites from Lully’s Les Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Rameau’s Les Indes Galantes.

“One of the interesting aspects to the CSO festival is that we are focussing on England, France, Italy, and Germany in our three concerts and will be using different sized orchestras as needed.”

The festival runs from 9th – 16th May. Tickets are available through Eventfinda.co.nz. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.cso.co.nz.

Splendour, Saturday 9th May, 7.30pm, Knox Presbyterian Church (Entry via Bealey Ave entrance)

Opulence, Wednesday 13th May, 7.30pm, Knox Presbyterian Church (Entry via Bealey Ave entrance)

Brilliance, Saturday 16th May, 7.30pm, Church of St Michael and All Angels

ENDS

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