Let's waltz forever! It is pleasure: A line from Gounod's Faust, with Gavin Maclean as Faust and Catherine Macdonald as Marguerite in a 1979 production. Picture supplied
Let's waltz forever! It is pleasure: A line from Gounod's Faust, with Gavin Maclean as Faust and Catherine Macdonald as Marguerite in a 1979 production. Picture supplied
A sensual, cerebral, sesquicentennial celebration — such is the billing for a variety concert springing from the combined 75th birthdays of local musicians Catherine Macdonald and Gavin Maclean this Saturday, May 28.
With a mixture of fun and serious items, the programme will include musical groups associated with the couple:the Gisborne Choral Society, St Andrew's and Men's choirs, Brazilian band Lars and the Clandestinos, piano quartet, with added contributions from family members.
The Choral Society will give a foretaste of their upcoming concert in June, and provide backing for Amanda Maclean's original song, Poets Past.
Accompanied by Sean Scanlen at the organ, Catherine will be partnered by trumpeter Per Elzen for Handel's Let the Bright Seraphim, and with Coralie Hunter on piano and Sue St John on flute, an acrobatic set of variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Gavin will be joined by Coralie for the romantic Beethoven song-cycle An die ferne Geliebte (To the distant beloved).
The whānau includes bagpipers Robert Hunter (brother-in-law) and his grandson Ralph, and other singers (including Belinda Behle (daughter), injured so playing piano with left-hand only, but also singing, in a merry combination.
At 4pm on Saturday, May 28, this is part of the St Andrew's concert series, sponsored by Marjorie Redstone Trust, JN Williams Memorial Trust, and HB Williams Turanga trust. Entry is free, with optional koha to assist the performing groups and the church.
