On Tuesday, October 30, The Latrobe Chorale and West Gippsland Chorale came together for the first joint rehearsal for their combined concert on Sunday November 25.
For this performance they will be joined by the Heidelberg Choral Society and a fifty piece orchestra, to present Symphonic Adiemus, composed by award winning contemporary composer Sir Karl Jenkins.
Also on the programme will be Giacomo Puccini’s Messa di Gloria with soloists Jeremy Kleeman (bass baritone) and Timothy Reynolds (tenor).
Timothy Reynolds has performed on the operatic stage in Europe, the UK, and regularly in Australia with Victorian Opera and Opera Australia.
Jeremy Kleeman is a graduate of Victorian Opera’s Developing Artist Program, and of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
Peter Bandy from Heidelberg Choral Society will conduct the Sunday afternoon concert.
The Symphonic Adiemus and Messa di Gloria concert will be performed at the newly re- furbished West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul and is shaping-up to be the musical highlight of 2018.
Simon Loveless, Musical Director of the West Gippsland Chorale, is looking forward to the musical event.
“The Jenkins works is a piece that could really excite the audience. He combines the grandeur of the symphony orchestra with the rhythmic drive of world-fusion,” he said.
At the combined rehearsal with their concert conductor, Peter Bandy, the two local choirs felt a definite sense of anticipation and build-up to this unique event.
Choristers are very keen to experience the combination of all three choirs together.
The Heidelberg Choral Society was formed in 1920, and welcomed Peter Bandy as their Artistic Director and conductor in 2011, who is well known for his extensive knowledge of many musical genres and work with many and varied orchestras from the New Zealand symphony to the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet.
Locally, the Warragul based West Gippsland Chorale, under the musical direction of Simon Loveless since 2012, have been enjoying mastering some of the complex concepts in the Symphonic Adiemus work.
Simon regularly challenges the choir to learn new material, and to reach a high standard of performance, drawing on his own background as a performer, accompanist and advocate for choral music.
Similarly, the Latrobe Chorale, formed in 1986, has also been practicing hard in Morwell to learn and interpret this music. Mary Mirtschin is the musical director and is an accomplished soloist and educator and has performed with Opera Australia. She enjoys collaborating with groups and nurturing students of all ages. The Latrobe Chorale performs a range of challenging works under Mary’s guidance and in 2017 they presented the Brahms Requiem where Mary not only conducted the work but also sang the soprano solo.
Online and telephone bookings for the concert are open now.
Audience members are invited to immerse themselves in the exuberance of Symphonic Adiemus and the joy of Puccini’s much-loved Messa di Gloria. It promises to be a rare combination of epic music performed in an iconic Gippsland location.
There will be one performance only for this concert which is taking place as the result of a major effort by the Latrobe and West Gippsland Chorale’s management committees to develop and realise a large project as a collaborative venture.
Ticket prices are Adults $45, Concession $40, 18 years and under $20, groups of 10 or more $40. Bookings can be made on 5624 2456 or at www.wgac.com.au
This project is proudly supported by Baw Baw Shire Council and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
