Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Entertainment

William Dart: A familiar and rewarding Messiah

17 Dec, 2019 04:00 PM2 minutes to read
Jarvis Dams, singing with his usual intelligence, joined Auckland Choral for Handel's Messiah. Photo / File

Jarvis Dams, singing with his usual intelligence, joined Auckland Choral for Handel's Messiah. Photo / File

By
William Dart

VIEW PROFILE

Uwe Grodd has conducted Auckland Choral's annual Messiah since 2008 and his enthusiastic welcoming from the podium is as much part of the occasion as the music itself.

For this man, Handel's oratorio is a living, malleable organism. Tonight, he alerts us to a few "nips and tucks" in the score, as well as a bonus alternative aria.

Grodd is an enthused and simpatico guide as his choristers undertake their familiar journey. Their resounding "Wonderful counsellor" in Unto us a son is born, is a shout of joy, as much for the music making as the subject.

There is finesse in the playing of Pipers Sinfonia led by Miranda Hutton. Philip Smith bolsters Handelian pomp and splendour from the town hall organ, but when smaller forces come through, one takes much pleasure from James Bush's engaging cello, and the crisp keyboard contributions of Peter Watts and John Wells.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Soprano Elizabeth Mandeno. Photo / Supplied
Soprano Elizabeth Mandeno. Photo / Supplied

Amongst the soloists, Elizabeth Mandeno displays the form that won her the Lockwood Aria Competition last month. The soprano exhorts the daughter of Zion to rejoice in an exultant whirl of 6/8, impresses with sensitively sculpted ornamentation and looks over her printed score to catch both our eyes and ears.

Leaning more to soprano than alto, Tessa Romano's mezzo needs more projection in its lower register and the curious decision to omit the customary repeat in He was despised, means that we only experience the singer's own elaborate reworking of Handel's melody.

Manase Latu leads us into the story with spine-tingling anticipation, using his lyrical gifts to make the few bars of Behold and see one of the evening's highlights.

Jarvis Dams sings with his customary intelligence, pairing up with Huw Dann for an imposing trumpet aria, However, too great a reliance on the printed score dampens the operatic fire and fury of Why do the nations rage so furiously, an aria of almost frightening relevance in our own times.

What: Auckland Choral
Where: Auckland Town Hall
When: Monday
Reviewer: William Dart

Related articles

Entertainment

Dame Kiri lures them to newly re-named theatre

21 Nov 04:00 PM
Entertainment

NZTrio finishes year on a high note

16 Dec 04:00 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Premium
Entertainment

Better Call Saul: Jonathan Banks says goodbye to Mike

19 Aug 07:00 AM
Entertainment

Frances Bean Cobain 'wasn't sure' she'd reach 30

19 Aug 03:17 AM
Premium
Entertainment

Tim Roth on new film Punch, living in NZ and Jacinda's BBQ

18 Aug 03:49 AM
Talanoa

Netflix doco revisits Manti Te'o catfish hoax a decade later

19 Aug 01:30 AM
Entertainment

Taylor Swift's major movie snub revealed

19 Aug 12:50 AM

Most Popular

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations
New Zealand|Politics

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children
New Zealand|Crime

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 05:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP