Bach Musica NZ: World Premiere & Bach

Bach Musica NZ proudly presents a world premiere by award-winning NZ composer Tolnay. Tolnay describes the beautiful sunrise and scenery in the Marlborough Sounds.

Bach Musica NZ's chorus and orchestra combine to perform Barber's famous Adagio for strings in its choral version Agnus Dei. Other highlights include the romantic Ave Maria by Vavilov (with soprano Gina Sanders), Brahms' Geistliches Lied and Ravel's L'Aurore, sung in French (with tenor Iain Tetley).

Arguably the most famous Bach cantata for solo alto voice, Vergnügte Ruh, BWV 170, opens the concert, sung by NZ's leading counter tenor, Stephen Diaz. The concert is conducted by Rita Paczian.

"As ever, conductor Rita Paczian artfully and competently master-minded proceedings, driving her ensemble yet again to an overwhelming finale. They demonstrated another remarkable Bach Musica NZ characteristic: that of pronounced and assured artistic versatility. Defying the miserable winter outside, this ambitious concert ended to the "bravo" calls of a packed Town Hall audience."
Rainer Buhmann, NZ Opera News