presented by Voices New Zealand in association with Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts

“[A] spellbinding adaptation of a much-loved favourite…” Otago Daily Times on Re-imagined Mozart: Erebus 

Programme:
Reimagining Mozart, Robert Wiremu’s version of the Mozart Requiem 

Plus:
Komm Jesu Komm, Bach
Der Weg, Leonie Holmes
Ranginui, Takerei Komene
Kua Rongo, Wehi whanau
O Viridissima Virgo, Hildegard von Bingen 

Massed item with Voices NZ and NZ Youth Choir alumni singers

Ara Hura – A Visionary Journey celebrates Aotearoa’s most influential choral conductor, Karen Grylls. From rural beginnings to global acclaim, Grylls’ remarkable story is honoured in this gala concert. 

Voices New Zealand, the ensemble she founded and debuted at this Festival in 1998, leads the celebration, joined by taonga pūoro artist Horomona Horo, leading instrumentalists, and a chamber ensemble from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. 

The centrepiece is Robert Wiremu’s Re-imagined Mozart: Erebus, premiered to critical acclaim two years ago. The programme also features Leonie Holmes’ Der Weg, a new commission from Takerei Komene, and waiata by Ngāpō and Pimia Wehi — highlighting Grylls’ pioneering collaborations that reshaped Aotearoa’s choral landscape. 

Don’t miss her final appearance as Music Director of Voices New Zealand — a rare chance to celebrate her vision, artistry, and legacy. 

Programme

Victoria Kelly Stabat Mater (World Premiere NZSO Commission)
Rossini Stabat Mater

Rossini’s majestic Stabat Mater is based on the thirteenth-century liturgy describing the Virgin Mary’s suffering at the crucifixion of her son, Jesus. This text, written by a priest and influencing the perceived role of women throughout Western history, stands in dialogue with Kelly’s, a contemporary appraisal of Mary, motherhood, and women.

Joining us is acclaimed Italian conductor Valentina Peleggi, increasingly sought after as an inspired conductor of opera. Concerto.com declaimed that Peleggi “has Rossini in her blood […and displays] radiant leadership.”

A very special THANK YOU to these four donors who, like us, believe that these symphonic choral masterpieces need to be heard in Aotearoa:

Dame Adrienne Stewart
Dame Jenny Gibbs
Adam Foundation and
Ensemble

Left unfinished at the time of his death in 1791, Mozart’s Requiem is not only testament to his extraordinary talent but continues to be regarded as one of the most profound and moving musical expressions in classical music.

Programme Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (arr. Robert Wiremu) | Requiem in D minor K 626

About composer Robert Wīremu:

As an occasional composer, Robert has been relatively prolific in output. A student of the late Jack Body, the late David Farquhar, and the very active Ross Harris, Robert was a singer (studying with Emily Mair) specialising in new and old music. It’s not surprising then that he would focus his writing on work featuring the voice. He’s also strongly influenced by Māori sounds and perspectives, which is evident in his output.

Voices NZ 25th Birthday

Happy birthday to us! You may know that our 25th birthday is coming up, and we’re going to celebrate in style by going on this national tour with Chamber Music New Zealand.

There are two ways that you can help us celebrate as alumni or long-time of the choir. If you live in any of the places we’re taking ‘Reimagining Mozart’, please consider coming along. We and Karen would love to see you.

Secondly we encourage you to share in this group your photos and memories of Voices NZ over the years. We will collate and treasure them as we reflect on this milestone and the next 25 years. You can email them to choirs@choirsnz.co.nz

Ka rawe!

Supported by:

Mahler Symphony No. 3 in D Minor

What better way to kick off Gemma New’s first full year as NZSO Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor than with one of the greatest symphonies of all time? Mahler’s Third Symphony is a colossal monument in the orchestral repertoire, requiring a giant orchestra, singers from Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, a children’s choir, and a mezzo-soprano soloist. In this work, Mahler interrogates and portrays gorgeous life itself – summer, nature, humanity, heaven and love.

Renowned mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke returns to our shores to perform in this masterful work. Described as being “equal parts poise, radiance, and elegant directness” (Opera News), she gained particular acclaim for originating the female lead in John Adams’ opera Doctor Atomic. Comfortable singing everything from Mozart to Missy Mazzoli, she has made a specialty of gilding Mahlerian repertoire with her “bewitchingly lustrous” sound (New Zealand Herald).

Conductor Giordano Bellincampi
Soprano Kirstin Sharpin
Mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell
Tenor Manase Latu
Bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes

Combined choir from:

Voices New Zealand
New Zealand Youth Choir
New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir

The Graduate Choir New Zealand
Director Karen Grylls

Programme:

Beethoven Symphony No.8
Beethoven Symphony No.9

Beethoven’s genial Eighth Symphony is the work of an unrivalled artist revealing himself as a fellow human, laughing and joking like the rest of us. And our universal humanity is the explicit concern of his next symphony, but it’s on an entirely different scale.

For the heaven-storming Ninth, the orchestra alone wasn’t enough: voices were necessary for Beethoven’s ecstatic vision. ‘All men shall become brothers,’ they sing. ‘I embrace you, O you millions – this kiss is for all the world!’

With this concert, the APO finally completes its much-anticipated symphony cycle. Through the music, with its vast, elemental force, Beethoven speaks to us across the centuries and into infinity.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is New Zealand’s full-time professional Metropolitan orchestra, serving the country’s largest and most vibrant city with a comprehensive programme of concerts and education and outreach activities.

Presented in association with ICBC