Bach to the Future

The CBS Orchestra opens the year with a free concert in the Catholic Pro-Cathedral at 2 pm on Sunday, 13 February. presenting concerto favourites from the European baroque tradition. These include the Corelli Concerto Grosso in F, and a Handel Organ Concerto, featuring a talented Christ’s College student, Josh Hooker. The concert culminates in the famous Bach Double Concerto in D Minor for two violins, played by orchestral leader Natalia M. Lomeiko and her daughter Alexandra. A graduate of the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Alex is based in London, United Kingdom where she has established herself as one of the most talented and versatile musicians her age, winning prizes in various competitions, being broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on numerous occasions and performing extensively as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician both in the UK and abroad. Also on the hour-long programme will be some N.Z. string compositions. Musical director will be Don Whelan.

In 2022, CBS Music continues its popular Lunch Plus Wednesday At One recital series, beginning with Alexandra Lomeiko on February 16, then the annual Bach St John Passion at 8 pm on Good Friday, and another Christmas Messiah at 1.30 pm on Sunday, 11 December. A Lenten concert titled Seismic Symphony on Sunday, 20 March, at 2 pm, will include Haydn’s, Earthquake from his Seven Last Words, an organ concerto, and Symphony 93.

The Cathedral Feast Day of Corpus Christi will be commemorated on 19 June, at 2 pm, by a festival concert, featuring the Mozart “Haffner” Symphony No. 35, in D Major and a first New Zealand performance of John Rutter’s oratorio The Falcon. Another Christchurch Choral Festival is planned for August 21, at 3 pm.

In place of the usual Haydn symphony and Mass, the CBS choir, orchestra and soloists intend to perform his oratorio The Creation at 2 pm on Sunday 2 October, to mark the beginning of a new chapter for their cathedral music in Christchurch. They also hope to tour to Kaikoura, Blenheim and Nelson over Show Weekend, but all musical planning will be conditional on public health requirements at the time, and judging by last year’s experiences, many events may have to be cancelled or postponed.

The CBS musical year will conclude with a performance of Weber’s “Jubilee” Mass in G Major at the Christmas Midnight Mass.

The cathedral musicians maintain an extensive repertoire of masses and motets, sung each Sunday at the 11 a.m. Solemn Choral Mass. New members are welcome to the 7.30 pm Wednesday evening rehearsal at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. Sight reading ability is expected. Opportunities exist for choral leaders, who enjoy unique opportunities to perform solo roles in significant Mass and motet settings with the orchestra and choir. Those interested are invited to contact the CBS Musical Director, Don Whelan, phone 358-5873.