Talents unite for rare show

MUSICAL COMBO: The Rotorua District Choir is teaming up with the Rotorua Lakes Instrumental Ensemble for a special weekend of performances. PHOTO/FILE

A group of 30 of the region's most talented musicians will come together this weekend for a special performance of the Rotorua Lakes Instrumental Ensemble.

The ensemble will team up with more than 50 voices from the Rotorua District Choir to present Carmina.

The two performances will be the only time the ensemble is likely to perform together and it has taken months of rehearsals to get ready for it, said programme director, Martyn Heath.

He said he had scoured the region for string, woodwind, percussionists and brass players to present the pieces.

"We have so many incredibly talented musicians in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty," he said. "This is a rare opportunity for them to come together and perform some great works with the choir."

The programme begins with Carmina Burana, which starts with O Fortuna, Verdi's Ave Maria and the popular Deutsche Messe composed by Franz Schubert.

The National Library had to order in the sheet music for Deutsche Messe especially for the performance and the choir had spent months learning German for the concerts.

"The choir has been working on that and at the same time we've been gathering the instruments and finding suitable workshop times. A couple of Saturdays ago was the first time we all came together.

"It's been a huge amount of work," Mr Heath said.

"The music itself is interesting but difficult to get hold of. To experience O Fortuna live is interesting. Usually it's only where there are large choirs or large ensembles so this is something quite special."

Details
What: Rotorua Lakes Instrumental Ensemble & Rotorua District Choir.
When: Tomorrow, 7.30- 9.30pm, Sunday, 2-4pm.
Where: St Lukes Anglican Church, Amohia St.
Cost: $20, door sales only, children free.