Choral Capers - A Spring Outburst by the Gisborne Choral Soc

Choral Capers is a joyous and eclectic outburst by the Gisborne Choral Society, which had to await Level 1 before indulging in the heavy breathing of singing in public. It includes choral favourites, new guest artists, world folk-music and dancing, and audience singalongs.

It’s a club sandwich, with bread-and-butter Handel choruses on the outside, a meaty middle of Mozart and other morsels, and lots of salad and spices. Some “world music” items are a fresh venture for the choir, introduced and conducted by Amanda Maclean, who sang and assisted the three-hundred-strong Wellington World Choir when she lived there.

Organist Sean Scanlen is new to Gisborne this year, but, taking a quick break from Gisborne Music Theatre’s The Addams Family (along with Rosie West and Amanda), will provide sumptuous organ accompaniment and a sparkling solo piece. There is also a new vocal quartet, an awesome foursome of Catherine Macdonald, Madeleine Jones, Mary-Jane Richmond and Coralie Hunter, singing a capella, to whisk us back to the romantic era and the glorious cathedral setting of sixteenth-century Spain. Stunning student soprano Rosie West will sing a passionate Mozart aria, and Madeleine and Catherine will be joined by Gavin Maclean for the famous trio from Cosi fan tutte, with Coralie Hunter at the piano.

The ever-popular double-piano duo of Land of Hope and Glory (from past Piano Extravaganzas) will again rear its head, tempting the oldies to sing along. A few other audience items will be thrown in, along with an invitation to join the Hallelujah chorus, followed by afternoon tea—the ultimate leveller.
Koha welcome for performers.