Come 'n' Sing Verdi Requiem Press Release

COME & SING VERDI REQUIEM WITH ORPHEUS CHOIR

Come and Sing events are a tradition in the UK and Europe, but not well-known by the general public here. Wellington’s Orpheus Choir and a massed chorus will be singing their hearts out in a Verdi Requiem choral workshop on Friday evening and Saturday 17-18 July. Verdi’s Requiem is one of the most-sung big choral works ever but it hasn’t been heard in Wellington in a full performance since 1999.

This community project by Orpheus Choir, supported by WCC Creative Communities, will culminate in a performance at 7.30pm in Wellington Town Hall. This is sure to be a great concert, with a fine conductor, a brilliant organist, top Wellington soloists, and the voices of over 200 singers from Wellington and regional choirs and communities.

Musical Director Michael Fulcher will lead the workshop, joined by the Choir’s accompanist Fiona McCabe, and by Auckland City’s Organist John Wells who will turn the Town Hall’s magnificent organ into a full symphony orchestra. The soloists, all Wellingtonians, are soprano Janey MacKenzie, mezzo Annabelle Cheetham, tenor John Beaglehole and bass Justin Pearce.

Tickets from Ticketek: $20 general admission – students $10, children under 12 free if with an adult.

And if you fancy yourself as the next Pavarotti or Callas, you can register to sing:

phone 04 384 5444 or visit www.orpheuschoir.org.nz. Membership of a choir is not required - a basic musical ability and singing voice is all that’s needed.