AUCKLAND WELSH CHOIR TO PERFORM VAUGHAN WILLIAMS' FANTASIA ON CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Auckland Welsh Choir presents its annual collaboration with the Devonport Chamber Orchestra. The concert will showcase Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, a 1912 work for baritone, choir and orchestra. 

First performed at Hereford Cathedral, it consists of the English folk carols ‘The truth sent from above’, ‘Come all you worthy gentlemen’ and ‘On Christmas night all Christians sing’ (the Sussex Carol) – all folk songs collected in southern England by Vaughan Williams and his friend Cecil Sharp. These are interposed with brief orchestral quotations from other carols, such as the First Nowell.  Though sometimes performed in piano score only, Auckland Welsh Choir’s collaboration with the Devonport Chamber Orchestra is an excellent opportunity to experience the original work with the choir’s baritones Philip Morgan Rees and Vanya Boikov.

The Devonport Chamber Orchestra will also play Ottorino Respighi’s Orchestral Suite No 1, on Ancient Airs and Dances, his popular arrangement for orchestra or early Italian lute music.  Adding to the content, the choir will perform some of their best loved and newest choral repertoire, including songs arranged by John Rutter.

Tickets for this concert are limited with the venue.  All profits from the concert will be donated to the Child Poverty Action Group.

What: The Auckland Welsh Choir’s Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols
When: Saturday 15 November 2014, 3pm
Where: Somervell Church, cnr Remuera Road and Greenlane Road, Remuera, Auckland
Tickets: Can be purchased for $25 by phoning (09) 361 1000, or through iTicket  www.iticket.co.nz (incurs service fee), or at the door (children under 14 are free).

Concessions are available for student rush and group bookings.