Wendy Dawn Thompson (mezzo-soprano) and friends at St Andrew’s
This was to have been a showcase for Wendy Dawn Thompson, with the support of two younger singers Amelia Berry and Matt Landreth. But because Wendy was ailing (she had to cancel a Messiah a few days before) it was decided to reduce her load by the inclusion of a couple of other singers. They were Bianca Andrew and Michael Gray... read more
Wellington Chamber Orchestra – family connections
Family ties involving both composers and performers were brought into play through this concert - firstly, on the strictly compositional front, works by both Antonin Dvorak and his son-in-law Joseph Suk featured on the programme; while Wellingtonian composer Tabea Squire's commissioned work "The Suneater - for Recorders and Strings" received skilled and committed advocacy from musicians whose ranks included both of her parents, conductor Gregory Squire and leader of...Messiaen’s La nativité du Seigneur from organist Richard Apperley
This was the third year that Anglican Cathedral has presented Messiaen’s Christmas celebration on the big organ. Though it didn’t draw as big an audience as Messiah a week earlier at the other cathedral, the Happy Few enjoyed a commanding and brightly coloured account of Messiaen’s early masterpiece. It was written in the year of... read more
St Andrew’s: Valerie Rigg and Tessa Olivier in Vitali Chaconne and Prokofiev sonata
This turned out to be a highly impressive and enjoyable recital of two famous works.
Valerie Rigg played with the NZSO for 19 years, eventually as principal first violin, and she also had a professional career in England, Germany and Canada. She now lives again in Wellington... read more