Australian Chamber Choir April 21, 2012

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER CHOIR 2012 PROGRAM

“Choral work of the first rank …” Clive O’Connell, The Age, 2010

"Thanks to the expressiveness of the singing, Brenton Broadstock's I Had a Dream became a most
beautiful experience." Berlingste Tidende, Copenhagen

Across 2012, the 18-member Australian Chamber Choir will perform stunning works in a series of themed concerts in specifically chosen acoustically rich venues.

Douglas Lawrence continues his unique thematic programming of choral works with Dynasty, Miserere and Chichester Psalms which feature works from composers of the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic and Modern periods from Bach, Schütz, Allegri, Handl, Mendelssohn, Pederecki, Barber and Bernstein.

The first concert Dynasty in Geelong on Sunday 15 April and Melbourne on Sunday 22 April, celebrates
the Bach family and their extraordinary musical dynasty. Around 60 Bachs worked as musicians between 1600 and 1800 and Dynasty explores the superb artistry of the family through the works of Johann Christoph, Johann Michael, Johann Ludwig, Wilhelm Friedemann and Johann Sebastian Bach,
considered the greatest composer of all time. A period instrument ensemble led by Briar Goessi will
accompany the choir.

On April 28 the Choir will perform at the much loved regional festival, the Southern Grampians Promenade of Sacred Music, in Hamilton Victoria.
Miserere, the second concert of the Choir’s 2012 three part series will be performed in Geelong on Sunday 24 June and Melbourne Sunday 1 July. The Choir will perform the hauntingly beautiful Miserere by Gregorio Allegri - (“Allegri's Miserere ... was fluent and blessed with an excellent soprano who executed
spine-chilling top Cs with comfortable assurance” – Clive O’Connell, The Age), coupled with the wonderful Miserere by 20th century Polish composer, Krzysztof Pederecki.

The Misere program also features two Australian works - I had a Dream (2006), in which Brenton
Broadstock pays homage to the late lamented Michael Easton, and Stephen Hodgson’s Lamentations, commissioned by the ACC in 2007. Douglas Lawrence’s Miserere program delves into the sadness of the human condition, but also includes life-affirming works by Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms.

The Choir conclude their 2012 season in Geelong on Sunday 14 October and Melbourne Sunday 21
October with Chichester Psalms. The title of this concert comes from Leonard Bernstein’s 1965 work
which remains one of the master works of the 20th century and is coupled with Psalm 100 by the ‘Father of German Music’ 16th century composer, Heinrich Schütz.

The 18-member choir, which comprises six sopranos, four altos, four tenors and four basses, comprises a mixture of Barristers, music students, professional musicians, teachers, a music publisher and even a former racing car driver (Andrew Moffat, Allan Moffat’s son).

The Choir will release its third CD in May 2012.

Led by Douglas Lawrence, the Choir also includes Douglas’ wife, Elizabeth Anderson, who has received
plaudits from European critics for her harpsichord performances and their 19-year old son, Jacob
Lawrence. Jacob started his solo singing career as a 12-year old treble, with concerts in Australia,
Germany, Poland and Denmark and is now in demand as a tenor soloist for works such as Mozart’s
Requiem, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah.

As well as their Australian Chamber Choir commitments and many other involvements, in July 2012 Elizabeth, Jacob and Douglas will give concerts in Hong Kong, Germany, England and Poland with solo organ, solo harpsichord, four-hands organ, organ and tenor, harpsichord and tenor performances.

Official Website: http://www.auschoir.org/concerts/