Choral Music / Choral Singing
(Sadly, SPC's concerts - St. John Passion Re-Imagined, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and A Centenary Celebration - have been cancelled due to coronavirus crisis. We have faith and hope this pandemic will end soon.)
The year 2020 is a special year for Sydney Philharmonia Choirs as it celebrates 100 years of singing and music-singing with a future-focused program, shining light on Australian composers, and on the organisation’s longstanding commitment to collaboration, community and connection.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs marks 100 years since 12 church choristers first met in 1920, forming the original “Hurlstone Park Choral Society”. It also pays tribute to the many collaborations and partnerships that have seen the organisation mature over the decades, reinforcing its position as Australia’s leading choral organisation, recognised around the world for their contribution to Sydney’s vibrant artistic and cultural identity.
To fulfill the artistic vision for SPC's Centenary, at the heart of the celebrations is Sydney Philharmonia's commissioning of “100 Minutes of New Australian Music”, to be premiered as part of the Choirs’ 2020 Season. This new music will be created for SPC by emerging and established composers. From the most well-known composers, “100 Minutes of New Australian Music” embraces a diverse expertise, representative of the rich makeup of Australia’s music community: with pieces by Brett Dean, Elena Kats-Chernin, Deborah Cheetham, Joseph Twist, Brooke Shelley, James Henry, Nardi Simpson, Will Yaxley, Matthew Orlovich, Daniel Brinsmead, Maria Lopes, and Andrew Anderson.
These world premiere performances will feature throughout the year and on SPC's European tour. Works from these 12 Australian composers will make their debut as part of the initiative, including four on the international stage, as part of a European tour in October.
Comprising a variety of works created to varying length, scale and theme, the composite “100 Minutes of New Australian Music” will showcase a uniquely Australian contribution to the art form of choral music.
Highlights will include a series of works by Indigenous Australian composers, offering both chorister and audience a distinctive performance experience; and a new major work from Brett Dean, to be premiered in partnership with leading orchestras across Europe.
At least one of the new compositions – ranging from pieces for small ensembles to those for large massed choirs, will be performed at each of the organisation’s concerts, rolling out throughout their anniversary year.
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SEASON 2020 PERFORMANCES
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DAWN CHORUS
On Sunday 19th January 2020, 5.30am, as the first rays of light break over Sydney and the Opera House sails glisten in the light, a Dawn Chorus will begin to summon the dawn with music full of hope and power, comprising hundreds of singers from the Choirs’ 600 strong membership, gathered on the steps of Sydney Opera House, conducted by Artistic and Music Director, Brett Weymark. Markedly, the opening note of the year will go to the world premiere of a choral Acknowledgement of Country, Tarimi nulay - Long time living here (Gadigal language), composed by acclaimed Indigenous Australian soprano and composer, Deborah Cheetham: the first of the Choirs’ commissions to make its debut as part of “100 Minutes of New Australian Music”. Sydney Philharmonia sings in a new day and a new season!
Sunday 19 January, at dawn (arrive for 5:30am)
Monumental Steps, Sydney Opera House
CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD
In February the Choirs will partner with City Recital Hall to present the Australian premiere of Craig Hella Johnson’s Grammy- nominated oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard. Written in response to one of the worst anti-gay hate crimes in history, this moving work commemorates a young American college student who was kidnapped, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die, in Wyoming in October 1998. The tragic death of Matthew Shepard caused anguish and outrage. Nearly 20 years later it inspired composer Craig Hella Johnson to contemplate suffering, death and the flame of love. Conducted by Elizabeth Scott, the youthful voices of VOX perform a musical memorial that reverberates with hope, a cathartic transformation of nightmare into serenity.
Thursday 20 February, 7:30pm
City Recital Hall
ST JOHN PASSION RE-IMAGINED
Bach’s transcendent music takes centre stage when the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs return to the Sydney Town Hall for his dramatic telling of the Easter story in the St John Passion. The Choirs present the first of their large scale concerts for the year, in the stunning surrounds of Sydney Town Hall. A significant space, where so many of Sydney Philharmonia’s performances have occurred over its 100-year history, the Town Hall will host four of the organisation’s major 2020 presentations, beginning with their Easter Saturday concert, St John Passion Reimagined. The dramatic power of Bach’s St John Passion has transcended its church origins to speak a universal, musical message that combines storytelling and meditation. In this re-imagined performance two specially commissioned “reflections” by Australian composers, Joseph Twist and Brooke Shelley, are embedded in the narrative, commenting on questions posed by this great work, and providing musical and philosophical reflections for the modern era.
Saturday 11 April, 3pm
Sydney Town Hall
ELIJAH
Come May and Sydney Philharmonia’s 400-voice Festival Chorus will fill the Town Hall with the exhilarating sounds of Mendelssohn’s choral masterpiece Elijah. When Mendelssohn's Elijah received its successful premiere at the 1846 Birmingham Festival there were more than a hundred singers in the choir. Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus will present this oratorio on a grand scale with an imposing sound and the perfect Victorian-era ambience of the Sydney Town Hall. Based on the Old Testament story, Elijah combines the majestic tradition of Handel and the worshipful spirit of Bach with Mendelssohn's own romantic style. The result is a thrilling musical picture of “a grand and mighty prophet...borne on the wings of angels”. But as conductor Brett Weymark points out, Elijah was also a complex personality. Mendelssohn himself saw him as "energetic and zealous, but also stern, wrathful and gloomy". His characterisation requiers a commanding vocal and dramatic presesnce and dit's a role that suits the operatic baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes.
Saturday 9 May, 3pm
Sydney Town Hall
A CENTENARY CELEBRATION
In June, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs present their showpiece Sydney concert for the year, A Centenary Celebration. An epic performance across three acts, this spectacular concert will celebrate 100 years of singing, and the ever-evolving cultural fabric of the city the Choirs call home. It features a major new work from Elena Kats-Chernin; the Sydney premiere of a new work from Deborah Cheetham; new works from James Henry and Nardi Simpson; and a mash-up of the top ten choral masterpieces at the core of the Choirs’ repertoire, created for the Philharmonia by Dan Walker.
The Sydney Town Hall will be filled with the breathtaking sound of 600 voices as the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs gather to celebrate 100 years of singing. In three exhilarating acts, this concert shares the story of Sydney, the culture diversity, and the rich musical heritage that has been bringing the choir together since 1920.
Saturday 20 June, 5pm
Sydney Town Hall
CHORUSOZ: VERDI REQUIEM
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty and terror of Verdi’s Requiem in a mighty performance with the 700-voice strong ChoruzOz, some of Australia’s leading soloists and a full symphony orchestra. The Choir’s ChorusOz program comes to the Town Hall, drawing hundreds of participants from around Australia and beyond, for an intensive weekend of music-making, culminating in a one-off performance of Verdi’s great masterpiece, his Requiem.
Sunday 4 October, 5pm
Sydney Town Hall
SPC CENTENARY TOUR
In October, 120 choristers from the Choirs’ Symphony Chorus, Chambers Singers and VOX choirs, will embark on a “Centenary Tour”, premiering a unique portfolio of new Australian choral music by Brett Dean, Matthew Orlovich, Daniel Brinsmead and Will Yaxley. Presented in collaboration with esteemed local orchestral partners including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Lyon National Orchestra, the tour represents an exceptional opportunity for European musicians to learn and present new Australian music, and for audiences in the UK and Germany to experience the latest Australian creativity and innovation.
For updates on international tour venues and ticket availability, join Sydney Philharmonia’s mailing list at sydneyphilharmonia.com.au
TRANSCENDENCE
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs returns to the Sydney Opera House Utzon Room to present Transcendence, a concert in honour of the patron saint of music and musicians, Saint Cecilia, with the 32 voices of Sydney Philharmonia's Chamber Singers. The chant-inspired music of visionary American composer Lou Harrison provides the framework for a garland of choral tributes from composers across the ages, including new works from Maria Lopes and Andrew Anderson.
Saturday 21 November, 5pm
Sunday 22 November, 2pm
Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
CAROLS AT THE COLISEUM
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs are making their first appearance in the new Sydney Coliseum with a joyous, family-friendly program based around Robert Shaw’s Many Moods of Christmas. Special guest star Teddy Tahu Rhodes joins a 100-voice chorus for baroque classics, show tunes and all your favourite carols. As the finale for their 2020 celebrations, the Choirs will take their Christmas Carols event to Western Sydney, presenting two performances of Carols at the Coliseum, at Sydney’s newest venue The Sydney Coliseum Theatre. This will be a family-friendly program based around Robert Shaw’s Many Moods of Christmas, featuring baroque classics, show tunes and everyone’s favourite Christmas carols.
Saturday 19 December, 8pm
Sunday 20 December, 2pm
Sydney Coliseum Theatre
Note from Brett Weymark, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Music & Artistic Director
“2020 is a very special year for us at the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, celebrating the extraordinary milestone of 100 years of singing together. So how do you celebrate 100 years of music making? You create something new - hence our ambitious project of 100 minutes of new music to celebrate our centenary. 100 for 100! An opportunity to explore our past, the present and our future as an artistic force in our city.
“We have major works being presented by our choirs in Sydney and abroad, from international names such as Brett Dean and Elena Kats-Chernin, to emerging artists and even members of our own choirs. In 2016 we made a commitment to the female voice in the compositional world with our contribution to the National Women Composers Development Program and this continues in the coming year, under the watchful eye of Liza Lim.
“In 2020 we launch a program that embraces the Indigenous Australian voice in choral music. Each concert this season will commence with a sung Acknowledgment of Country - Tarimi nulay - Long time living here (Gadigal language), written by the acclaimed Deborah Cheetham and Matthew Doyle, alongside new works by Nardie Simpson and James Henry. This is the start of an ongoing cultural conversation with the First Nations peoples of Australia and one we know will enrich the lives of our singers and our understanding about how we can better shape the future of this country.
“In an age where many people express despair at a lack of connection with each other, live music-making continues to be one of the most dynamic exchanges of energy we have as a society."
Photo Credit:
Keith Saunder.
Video Credit:
Celebrating 100 Years in 2020. Uploaded by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Resources:
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Centenary Events
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Centenary Season in 2020. Stage Whispers. Accessed December 19, 2019.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Concerts: 2020 Season. Accessed September 11, 2019.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Website
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Brochure. 2020 Season: Celebrating 100 Years.
(c) September 11, 2019. Updated February 13, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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