Choir takes a 'riotous, rhythmical journey'

BASS-BARITONE: Roger Wilson will bring "unrivalled characterisation" to Sunday's performance of the wonderful Carmina Burana cantata. Picture supplied

GERMAN composer Carl Orff was, by all accounts, a bit of a creep — an active Nazi, a bad friend, difficult husband and neglectful father. But a tarnished reputation was not all he left when he died in 1982 . . . with his most famous cantata, Carmina Burana, he is credited with having used driving rhythms and exultant hedonism to capture the spirit of the medieval period.

In his musical interpretation of the 11th, 12th and 13th century poems, Orff explored the pleasures (and perils) of the multiple vices of drinking, gluttony, gambling and lust.

Perhaps more relevant to this time of year, though, parts of Orff’s trio of works celebrate the return of spring which, by the time Gisborne Choral Society perform the works on Sunday, will be just over a week away.

As a curtain-raiser, the choir will present a 15-minute version of Vivaldi’s Gloria, with violins, bassoon and a brass trio accompaniment.

But musical director Gavin Maclean says the main focus will be on the programme proper, which he describes as “a raunchy, riotous, riveting, rhythmical journey through a collection of medieval poems”.

To help deliver the work he has convinced Wellington bass-baritone Roger Wilson to appear as, among other things, a drunken abbot and a burning swan.

And Wilson should know the piece well. Though born in New Zealand, he began his career in the 1970s in Switzerland and Germany, birthplace of Carmina Burana.

That Wilson is a fluent speaker of several languages and singer of several others is of note — Sunday’s performance is sung in Latin and old German, with an English translation projected for the audience.

“Roger brings to Carmina Burana an unrivalled characterisation and sense of humour,” Maclean says.

“Although possessing a rich voice in the deeper register, in this extraordinary work he also ranges high into the countertenor — which is higher than a tenor.”

Also in performing solo will be Gisborne soprano Catherine Macdonald who, says Maclean, “scales the technical heights demanded of her with ease and brings moments of beauty into the general excitement”.

The ensemble is completed by the duo pianos of Coralie Hunter and Trish Tattle, “coupled with a veritable orchestra of percussion in the capable hands of Amanda Maclean and Sebastian Pedrioli”.

Gisborne Choral Society presents Carmina Burana at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday (2pm).