Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2024 - The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

Choral Singing / Choral Music

 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2024 - THE ARMED MAN: A Mass for Peace

Sunday 9 June 2024, 5 P.M.
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 

(LIVE broadcast from ABC Classic!)    

“A hope for mankind.”
 

It's that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists.

ChorusOz – Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' annual “big sing” – brings together a community of singers from across Australia and around the world for an inspiring weekend. And this time, ChorusOz returns with a complete performance of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.

 

Music & artistic director Brett Weymark has chosen The Armed Man: one of the most popular choral works of our time, with thousands of performances and decades in the classical charts. Its starting point is a mediæval earworm (L’Homme armé) but the themes are absolutely contemporary.

Inspired by the tragedy of the Kosovo War, Karl Jenkins combines sacred and secular texts. It’s exhilarating music to perform, with a parade of musical styles, thought-provoking texts and powerful emotions. Equally exhilarating are the choral hymns Finlandia and Jerusalem. And – for the first time the 16-year history of ChorusOz – Sydney Philharmonia Choirs commissioned a new Australian work especially for this event.

Whether you’re in the middle of the choir singing at full voice, or joining in the audience, find harmony singing for peace.

Sunday 9 June at 5pm
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

This performance will run for 1 hour and 30 minutes. No interval.

PROGRAM

Karl JENKINS The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
Jean SIBELIUS Finlandia with choral hymn finale
Hubert PARRY Jerusalem
(orchestral accompaniment by Edward Elgar)
Katie NOONAN & Andrew O’CONNOR An Instrument of Peace† (World premiere)

† Sydney Philharmonia Choirs commission

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor
AVÉ (Australian Vocal Ensemble)
   Katie Noonan soprano
   Fiona Campbell mezzo-soprano
   Louis Hurley tenor
   Andrew O’Connor baritone
ChorusOz 2024
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra

BOOK TICKETS HERE

DOWNLOAD FREE PROGRAM BOOK HERE

ChorusOz for singers takes place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June.Visit sydneyphilharmonia.com.au to sign up as a participant - no prior singing experience required.

 

Related Links:

Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man - Concert for Peace. Youtube, uploaded by CMajorEntertainment. Accessed June 1, 2022  

Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man - full concert. Youtube, uploaded by Oscar Fredriks Vocalis. Accessed June 1, 2022.  

The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace - Sir Karl Jenkins. Youtube. uploaded by Jerusalem Oratorio Choir. Accessed June 1, 2022.  

The Armed Man: Seeking Peace for 25 Years and Counting. Composer Sir Karl Jenkins speaks to Limelight about his most popular work and its evolving meaning over more than 3000 performances. Limelight. 5 June, 2024. Accessed same day. Quoted from Limelight:

"Sir Karl Jenkins' pride in the work is tempered by some mixed feelings.He says: “The original brief for the piece was to write something that was hopeful for peace,” he says. “That was back in 1998 and look where we are now. Nothing has changed. Peace is as far away as it ever was.”"

"For the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs concert, conductor Brett Weymark has paired Jenkins’ The Armed Man with two other choral hymns that chime with similar hopes for peace: Hubert Parry’s Jerusalem, Jean Sibelius's Finlandia and a newly commissioned work by Katie Noonan and Andrew O’Connor, An Instrument of Peace, which will premiere at ChorusOz this weekend.  “In planning this year’s program,” says Weymark, “I felt it timely to bring together music from different countries and different times to explore diverse voices on the themes of peace and hope and consider the questions generations of poets and composers have been trying to answer.”"

 

Photo Credit:

ChorusOz The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. 

Resources:

1. ChorusOz | The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed June 1, 2024. (Available at the time of access.) 
2. ChorusOz Online Program. 
3. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs 2024 Season Catalogue. Voice. Energy. JOY.
4. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs ChorusOz 2024, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. The Aussie Theatre Com. Accessed June 1, 2024.

 

COVID-19 SAFETY AT OUR CONCERTS

Up-to-date COVID guidelines will be available a few weeks before the concert. Please note that we regularly update our guidelines based on health advice available at the time.

 

(c) June 2024. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2023: MAHLER 8

Choral Singing / Choral Music

 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2023: MAHLER 8

Sunday 11 June 2023, 5 P.M.
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 

“Imagine the whole universe beginning to sing and resound. These are no longer human voices, but coursing planets and suns.”
Gustav Mahler

It's again that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists.

ChorusOz – Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' annual “big sing” – brings together a community of singers from across Australia and around the world for an exhilarating weekend of intensive music-making. And this time, as ChorusOz returns after a three-year hiatus, we’re going bigger and better than ever before with a complete performance of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, his “Symphony of a Thousand”.

Sydney Philharmonia sets sights on a “symphony of a thousand” – literally! ChorusOz will be joined by eight renowned Australian soloists, a children’s chorus and an orchestra of more than a hundred, and you’re invited to join us as we rehearse and perform Mahler 8 in the inspirational surrounds of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Mahler’s Eighth Symphony was the first choral symphony to make the voices completely integral to the music – the singing almost never stops. The great composer offered the Eighth as an expression of confidence in the eternal human spirit. This is truly a big sing – universal in scope, a celebration of the Creative Spirit and the redemptive power of love. And whether you’re in the audience or part of the thousand-voice choir on stage, ChorusOz 2023 promises an unforgettable and life changing experience.

Sunday 11 June 2023 at 5pm
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

PROGRAM

MAHLER Symphony No. 8
“Symphony of a Thousand”

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor
Anna-Louise Cole soprano (Magna peccatrix)
Maija Kovalevska soprano (Una poenitentium)
Celeste Lazarenko soprano (Mater gloriosa)
Sian Sharp mezzo-soprano (Mulier samaritana)
Deborah Humble mezzo-soprano (Maria ægyptiaca)
Diego Torre tenor (Doctor Marianus)
Michael Honeyman baritone (Pater ecstaticus)
Christopher Richardson bass (Pater profundus)
ChorusOz 2023
Children’s Chorus
The Sydney Youth Orchestra
with members of Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra

TICKETS

Premium $85
Concessions $77
A booking fee of $8.95 per transaction applies.

ChorusOz for singers takes place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June. Register below to participate – no prior experience required.

 

Related Links:

Gustav Mahler. Inspired Pen Web. 

Mahler Symphony 8. Inspired Pen Web

 

Photo Credit:

Mahler 8 (Ad). Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

 

Video Credit: 

ChorusOz 2023. Accessed June 2, 2023.  

ChorusOz Mahler 8. Accessed June 2, 2023.

ChorusOz | Mahler 8 . V1. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed June 2, 2023

 

Resources:

1. ChorusOz 2023. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed June 2, 2023. (Available at the time of access.) 
2. ChorusOz Online Program. 
3. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs 2023 Season Catalogue. Voice. Energy. JOY. 

BOOK TICKETS HERE

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PROGRAM HERE

REGISTER FOR CHORUSOZ HERE

COVID-19 SAFETY AT OUR CONCERTS

Up-to-date COVID guidelines will be available a few weeks before the concert. Please note that we regularly update our guidelines based on health advice available at the time.

 

(c) June 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2019

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2019: Ode to Joy

9 June 2019, 5 P.M.  Sunday
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 


It's again that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers from interstate and all over the world join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists.





Ode to Joy 

Ludwig van Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' from his Ninth Symphony is one of his best-known themes. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz provide joining singers experience the thrill of performing this great choral finale with hundreds other voices, plus full orchestra and soloists in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.




Insights on the Program Repertoire:

You know the ‘Ode to Joy’. Perhaps you sang it at school, or played it on recorder. If you’ve heard Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony you’ll have thrilled to its sounds in the visionary choral finale that changed the course of music forever. But do you really know it?

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2018

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2018: G.F. Handel's dramatic oratorio 'SAUL'

10 June 2018, 5 P.M.  Sunday
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 



It's again that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers from interstate and all over the world join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists.



Briefly, Handel's Oratorio 'SAUL'  

George Frideric Handel's Saul, HWV 53, is a dramatic oratorio in three acts with a libretto by Charles Jennens. Taken from the First Book of Samuel, the story of Saul focuses on the first king of Israel's relationship with his eventual successor, David, one which turns from admiration to envy and hatred, ultimately leading to the downfall of the eponymous monarch, Saul. Handel composed it in 1738, including the famous "Dead March", a funeral anthem for Saul and his son Jonathan, and some of Handel's most dramatic choral pieces. Saul was first performed at the Kind's Theatre in London on 16th January 1739. The work was a success at its London premiere and was revived by Handel in subsequent seasons.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2017

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2017: Felix Mendelssohn's 'ElIJAH'

11 June 2017, 5 P.M.  Sunday


At Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, it's that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers from interstate and all over the world join SPC choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists. This year ChorusOz is also joined by Sydney Auslan Ensemble (Signed Language.)

SPC's ChorusOz 2017 presents the magnificent oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn, 'ELIJAH.' 


Briefly, Mendelssohn's Oratorio 'ELIJAH' 

Elijah (German: Elias), Op. 70, is an oratorio written by Felix Mendelssohn. It premiered in 1846 at the Birmingham Festival. It depicts events in the life of the Biblical prophet  Elijah, taken from the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings of the Holy Bible's Old Testament. 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2016

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2016: George F. Handel's 'Israel in Egypt'

12 June 2016, 5 P.M.  Sunday
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 


At Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, once again, it's that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers from interstate and all over the world join SPC choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists.



Briefly, Handel's Oratorio 'ISRAEL IN EGYPT' 

George Frideric Handel's  Israel in Egypt (HWV 54) is a biblical oratorio. Most scholars believe the libretto was prepared by Charles Jennens, thesame text writer for Handel's most famous Messiah. It is composed entirely of selected passages from the Holy Bible's  Old Testament mainly from the books of Exodus and the Psalms.

Israel in Egypt premiered at London's King's Theatre in the Haymarket on April 4, 1739.  Handel started it soon after the opera season at King's Theatre was cancelled for lack of subscribers. The oratorio was not well received by the first audience though commended it was commended in the Daily Post, and the second performance was shortened, the mainly choral work now augmented with Italian-style arias.

Mendelssohn's Oratorio Elijah, Op. 70

Choral Music / Sacred Music / Oratorio

Considered his best work, at par with Haydn's The Creation

Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah, op.70: facts, the cast, brief history, and other Mendelssohn-related information.

Oratorio Elijah is considered the greatest work of Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in this genre. 

Facts about Oratorio Elijah

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847), a German composer of the Romantic era, born in Hamburg, Germany. 

Original Title: Elias (Elijah, at the first performance)

Original Language: German (English, at the first performance)

Text: Based on the Holy Bible passages, the story of Elijah from the Books of Kings, compiled by Mendelssohn himself. He was assisted by Julius Schubring and Karl Klingemann.

Form: Oratorio in Two Parts, a total of 42 musical numbers, with an introduction and overture . 

Date of Writing: 1845-1846.

First Performance: August 26, 1846, in Birmingham. Mendelssohn conducted with the world-famous Jenny Lind in the soprano role. 


(Note: Watch in YouTube to enjoy the entire oratorio playlist.)


Mendelssohn's Oratorio ELIJAH, Op. 70. 

The Cast

The Widow (soprano)

The Youth (soprano)

The Angel (soprano)

Another Angel (alto)

Jezebel, the Queen, (alto)

Obadiah (tenor)

Ahab, King of Israel (tenor)

Elijah, the Prophet (bass)

Four-part mixed chorus

Orchestra: Flutes, clarinets, bassoons, oboes, horns, trumpets, trombones, timpani, strings, one bass tuba.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs ChorusOz 10th Anniversary Concert (2015)

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Present

ChorusOz - Celebrating Ten Years

7 June 2015, 5 P.M.  Sunday




Year 2015 marks 10 years of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs's  ChorusOz, planned to be a spectacular event with a program featuring excerpts from every performance since its inception in 2004, founded by Brett Weymark, SPC's dynamic and charismatic music director. It is a chorus made up of SPC choristers and other singers from all over the world who assemble for the June holiday weekend to perform at the Sydney Opera House with a professional orchestra and soloists.

This 10th anniversary celebration is a chance for choristers to revisit favourite choral works and experience again (or for the very first time!) singing some of the most well-loved pieces from the choral repertoire.

Australia's Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Choral Singing / Choral Music

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (SPC), Australia's oldest and most prestigious iconic choir, continue to share the joy of choral music to both audience and singers. At the helm is its charismatic and dynamic Music Director Brett Weymark.

Passionate choristers. Fun. Demanding. Exciting. Therapeutic. Fulfilling.

As the largest choral group of Australia, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs mainly comprises the following: Chamber Singers, Symphony Chorus, Festival Chorus, and VOX youth group led by Liz Scott, Music Director.

The Chamber Singers. The dynamic Chamber Singers are renowned for their exceptional performances and professionalism. It comprises of 32-voice choir, auditioned annually to ensure the highest standard is maintained. As a flexible ensemble, they are also be engaged for commercial performances and corporate functions, Royalty and foreign dignitaries. It also performs annually in events such as the City of Sydney.

The Symphony Chorus.  The Symphony Chorus, with up to 150 members,  performs in concerts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra headed by David Robertson, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. It performs alongside the world's best conductors and soloists at the highest standard of excellence.

VOX.  SPC's young adult ensemble led by Music Director, Liz Scott. It comprises of singers aged 18-30 (orig. 16-26) performing programs of classical, popular and contemporary works. Recent highlights have included a recording with Aria award-winning composer and pianist, Sally Whitwell, appearances at the World Netball Championships, and in the Video Games concerts at the Enmore Theatre. In 2015 they performed in A Concert for Peace with the Festival Chorus. They also performed in Holst:The Planets for Earth Hour and Danny Elfman Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Sydney Symphony Orchestra.




Festival Chorus.  The Festival Chorus is the largest of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, with 350 to 400 members who come together twice a year to perform works from a diverse musical range. Singers are selected during Festival Chorus Open Days, which are held twice each year. To join Festival Chorus all singers must attend a voice placement workshop in early February. Each session will take around an hour and a half. At the workshop, the Music Director, possibly with other vocal associates, will conduct voice placements in order for him to assess singing ability and to determine vocal range. It also comprise warm-up exercises, simple melodies, scales and easy harmony pieces to give one the feel of being part of a wonderful sea of sound.  Its performances are often in collaboration with other organizations such as musical theatre company.

Recent  previous Festival Chorus programs include Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Leonard Bernstein’s hit musical Wonderful Town, Rossini Stabat Mater and Elgar Dream of Gerontius. The choir has premiered compositions by Matthew Hindson and Carl Vine, and collaborates with organisations such as the Sydney Youth Orchestra. In 2018 Festival Chorus will present Haydn's The Creation and Bernstein's Candide.

Joining will give you the opportunity to perform not only with hundreds of other passionate singers but also with professional orchestral players and some of Australia’s best soloists. In 2018 you will perform in the iconic Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House and the stunning Centennial Hall at Sydney Town Hall.

Here's a sneak peek of our rehearsals for George and Ira Gershwin's  Of Thee I Sing  performed Sept 26 and 27, 2015, timely too, for the composer's (George Gershwin) birthday.  In 1932, Of Thee I Sing was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 





Three other major events include: ChorusOz, Carols at the House & Handel's Messiah.


More recently, other initiatives have transpired, including: Singing at the House collaborated with the Sydney Opera House, commissioning and presenting Australian composers' works, and the Discover Series workshop.





How to Audition at Sydney Philharmonia


Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus Open Day Audition. In keeping with the times, there have been new developments in the FC audition process.





Here's Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy" Excerpt 2, performed during SSO's Season Opening Gala 2012.  Sydney Symphony Orchestra with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs - Symphony Chorus, Chamber Singers and VOX. Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor,  Lorina Gore soprano,  Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano,  James Egglestone tenor,  Michael Nagy baritone.





Sharing a Favourite Quote: 

"Sing, then. Sing, indeed, with shoulders back, and head up so that song might go to the roof and beyond to the sky. Mass on mass of tone, with a hard edge, and rich with quality, every single note a carpet of colour woven from basso profundo, and basso, and baritone, and alto, and tenor, and soprano, and also mezzo, and contralto, singing and singing, until life and all things living are become a song..." ~ Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley


Resources:

Beethoven Symphony No. 9: Ode to Joy Excerpt.  Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs / Ashkenazy.  YouTube, uploaded by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Accessed November 12, 2016.   

Facebook.com/SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs.  Accessed December 6, 2014.

Highlights of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed December 6, 2014. 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Festival Chorus (Audition 2011).  Accessed December 6, 2014. 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. YouTube uploaded by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed, November 12, 2016 

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Twitter.com/SydPhil

Note:  Originally published Dec 6, 2014.   Latest update, November 12, 2016. 



(c) December 2014.  Tel Asiado.  Latest update November 12, 2016. Inspired Pen Web.  All rights reserved.