The Tudor Consort Turns Twenty

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The Tudor Consort Turns Twenty

“... such quality and rigour ... such flawless, intelligent and stylish singing ... [The Tudor Consort] must rank among the finest choirs in the world” - The Dominion Post

“Wellington is lucky to have a world-class choir specialising in sacred music of the Renaissance yet able to enliven music of other eras.” - The Dominion Post

Queen’s Birthday Weekend sees the 20th anniversary concert series of renowned Wellington specialist early music group The Tudor Consort. The weekend brings together major talents from the group’s first 20 years for a feast of musical enjoyment, challenge and celebration.

Twenty years ago The Tudor Consort was founded by a small group of Wellington singers. They joined the world-wide renewed interest in the ethereal sounds of the Renaissance, transporting listeners to a different aesthetic time. Since then, The Tudor Consort has broadened its repertoire to include works by such contemporary composers as New Zealand’s Jack Body and Scotland’s James Macmillan, who was recently highlighted in the 2006 New Zealand International Arts Festival. Now, after 20 years of critically acclaimed live performances in Wellington, dozens ofr recordings for Concert FM, four international awards and a world-wide CD release on the NAXOS label, The Tudor Consort is recognised both nationally and internationally as one of the finest choral groups in New Zealand and the country’s leading proponent of Renaissance choral music.

The Queen’s Birthday Weekend celebration is made up of three concerts, each conducted by past and present directors of The Tudor Consort – Simon Ravens, Peter Walls and Alastair Carey.

Concert 1
Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christe: Richard Davy

Ancient meets modern in this remarkable revisiting of one of the key works of the early Renaissance. Conducted by current director Alastair Carey, Richard Davy’s moving Passion according to St Matthew. Davy’s original work of 1490 is recontextualised for chamber choir, vocal soloists and brass by a consortium of composers from the New Zealand School of Music including Jack Body, Ross Harris, Gillian Whitehead and David Farquhar in this very special performance to mark the 20th anniversary of The Tudor Consort.

Concert 2
Chandos Anthems: G F Handel

Handel’s Chandos Anthems are among the most dazzling and dramatic pieces of the baroque. The Tudor Consort’s former conductor and internationally recognised baroque specialist Professor Peter Walls directs this performance of these superb pieces for choir, orchestra and soloists.

Concert 3
Spem in Alium: Thomas Tallis
The Great Service: William Byrd
A stunning programme of sacred repertoire from the height of the English Tudor period conducted by The Tudor Consort’s founding director Simon Ravens, including Thomas Tallis’s epic tour de force for 40 voices Spem in Alium and William Byrd’s masterpiece for the Elizabethan Church, The Great Service, in a New Zealand premiere performance.

Former members are invited to register their interest in participating in the celebrations by visiting www.tudor-consort.org.nz/reunion.

20 Years of The Tudor Consort
Friday 2 June to Sunday 4 June

Concert 1
Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christe: Richard Davy
Jack Body and Colleagues
Director Alastair Carey
Friday 2 June, 8.00pm
The Great Hall, Massey University, Buckle Street, Wellington

Concert 2
Chandos Anthems: G F Handel
Director Peter Walls
Saturday 3 June, 8.00pm (pre-concert talk at 7.30pm)
St Mary’s of the Angels, Boulcott Street, Wellington

Concert 3
Spem in Alium, Thomas Tallis; The Great Service, William Byrd
Director Simon Ravens
Sunday 4 June, 8.00pm (pre-concert talk at 7.30pm)
St Mary’s of the Angels, Boulcott Street, Wellington

ENDS

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