The macabre and a cello celebration forms the base of the Central Otago Regional Orchestra’s November concert series to be performed in Wanaka and Roxburgh. Danse Macabre Op.40 (Saint-Saëns) is based on the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year where the saints (hallows), martyrs and faithful dead are remembered. This takes place on the Eve of All Hallows Day. The composer gave a dramatic musical view of this occasion providing the listener with a collation of pathos, dramatic intensity and eeriness with the use of chromatics, crescendos. accelerando and occasional calm. Think Halloween on steroids! Our very own Sheena Naughton will play the exciting violin solo in this piece. Sheena is a regular leader of CORO and a great supporter of the orchestra. Originally from Scotland, Sheena has called Queenstown home for over 20 years. She performs regularly as a soloist alongside teaching violin and is a founding member of the Queenstown Party Orchestra – a group that performs contemporary and popular music, using (mainly) traditional orchestral instruments and has recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Music at SIT.
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns composed his Cello Concerto No 1. Op. 33 in A minor as a celebration of the cello. This concerto is nontraditional because the three movements within it are not separated in the normal way, but rather morph from one to the other In a seamless fashion. The cello and all its capacity for musical expression and virtuosity is given a huge opportunity to shine. Our soloist for this work is looking forward to demonstrating the power and subilty of his special carbon fibre cello to Central Otago audiences. Jason is a member of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and has played in other orchestras in the North Island.
The fact that he is the son of our conductor and that his mother Jacqui will be in support on her mellow bassoon will give our November concert series a real family feel. This theme of family will be further enhanced by the inclusion of a piece by one of our longstanding orchestra-family members.
Allen Hogan, who is a member of our flute section has composed a work called Seanaid, the Irish Gaelic name for Serenade. Allen found inspiration for this piece in his Irish and Scottish ancestral roots, and the name reflects the Celtic style shapes in the triplets in the middle section with the dotted quaver and semiquaver figures alluding to jig forms. He originally composed the piece 12 years ago as an exercise for mentor Prof Peter Adams to critique. His teacher was rather complementary of the orchestration, inspiring Allen to hear it played by a full orchestra.
Complimenting these pieces, and, to somewhat lighten the ambience, Greig’s Symphonic Dance Op.64, No. 2, is a beautiful melodic piece of music featuring some very smooth oboe solos performed very capably and with great expression by Wanaka based Jose Cranfield.
Percussion will come to the fore in the Procession of the Sardar No.4 by Ippolitov-Inanov. Leading the charge in the percussion for our concert will be Ayako Cameron on timpani (and other rhythm makers). She will be joined by a team to give a resounding rendition of this procession which celebrates the Sardar, or feudal lord, in the area of the Caucasus Mountains.
Join us between our mountains overlooked by Tititea, (Mount Aspiring), in Wānaka and Kopuwai (Old Man Range) Roxburgh for a powerful November concert series.
Venues and Times:
Lake Wānaka Centre, Wānaka, November 9, at 7.30 pm and Roxburgh Entertainment Centre, November 10, at 2.00pm
Tickets will be available on-line at undertheradar.co.nz and at Gifted Design Wanaka, Alexandra Unichem Pharmacy, and Highland Pharmacy Roxburgh. Door sales available, cash only.
Admission free for all school age children, no ticket required for children but please email centralotagoregionalorchestra@gmail.com with name and number attending if you can. Children under 14yrs should have access to an accompanying adult.
