Brenda Harwood discusses Celebrating Matariki performed by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Town Hall, July 2.
From the first hair-raising notes sung by soprano Rebecca Ryan, it was clear that the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s Celebrating Matariki concert was going to be something special.
Large audiences were alternately enchanted and impressed as the orchestra and special guests, under the energetic direction of conductor Marc Taddei, gave a thrilling performance of beautiful Matarikit themes and epic cosmic works.
After a welcome from Mauraka Edwards, soprano Rebecca Ryan stepped forward with an a cappella performance of Gillian Whitehead’s beautiful waiata Matariki.
The contemplative mood continued with the world premiere of the intriguing piece New Mountain, by Dunedin composer Maddy Parkins-Craig.
Singer, composer and taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) player Ariana Tikao (Kai Tahu) and taonga puoro specialist Alistair Fraser then performed a fascinating rendition of voice/taonga puoro concerto Ko te tatai whetu, sensitively accompanied by the orchestra.
Ryan then returned to the stage to perform the spoken words of Charles Royal’s Matariki: A Time of Renewal, with the orchestra providing a swelling, uplifting backdrop.
To cap off a fantastic first half, Tikao, Ryan and the women of City Choir Dunedin joined the orchestra for a rousing performance of Philip Brownlee’s arrangement of Tikao and Leyton Glen’s waiata Matariki.
After such a varied and intriguing first half, it was an inspired decision for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra to perform Holst’s monumental The Planets as the second half of the concert, featuring Norma the City Hall organ played by David Burchell, and the women of City. Choir Dunedin.
The seven movements of the 50-minute work, which alternately portray the mood of the planets – Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – were fantastically varied and kept the audience captivated until the ethereal conclusion with an invisible chorus of female voices.
Throughout the concert, both starring and supporting, the DSO was in excellent shape, bringing out the many moods of the music.
A truly wonderful concert for Matariki. Bravo!