Our popular quartet for Handel’s Messiah

Posted on by

We welcome back our popular quartet of soloists for our December performance of  Handel’s Messiah.

Bryony Dwyer (Soprano), Anna Yun (Mezzo-Soprano), Pascal Herington (Tenor) and Alexander Knight (Bass) first sang with us for our performance of Beethoven’s 9th and Ode to Joy.  They performed together again earlier this year in our Mozart Requiem concert.  We know they are individually very talented and their voices complement each other so well.

We are all looking forward to a great concert.

Welcome our major sponsor – Dee Why RSL

Posted on by

We warmly welcome our new major sponsor.

Dee Why RSL Club provides members & visitors with great facilities, outstanding entertainment, a range of vibrant bars & dining options along with fun filled social activities. The club is very proud of its commitment to the community, providing ongoing support to over 100 local organisations annually! With the support of its members and the community it was honoured with the ‘Club of the Year’ award in 2008, 2010 & again in 2011.

The choir has had a long association with Dee Why RSL and the club used to be the venue for our weekly rehearsals.  Many choir members and friends are also members of the RSL and we would urge you all to make good use of its excellent facilities.

Alexandra at the Opera House

Posted on by

Alexandra Loukianova and her fellow violinists will perform at the Sydney Opera House in this “not to be missed” concert.

Those of us who heard the Australian Violin Ensemble in Manly, and Richard who went to the concert in Parramatta, all thoroughly enjoyed the varied programme from this unique group of very talented group of musicians.

There is plenty to enjoy for every music lover with a kaleidoscope of both well known and unexpected music that spans every genre.

The concert is hosted by ABC Classic FM’s Damien Beaumont.

Venue: Sydney Opera House Studio
Date: Sunday 23 October, 3pm,

Duration: Approximately two hours including one twenty minute interval

Here is a link to Sydney Opera House which contains details of the concert and how to buy tickets.

Or visit the Australian Violin Ensemble website.

The trumpet shall sound!

Posted on by

Manly Warringah Choir seems to have set something of a precedent in using two pianos instead of full orchestra as the accompaniment for our most recent concert, Carmina Burana.

Last week the Sydney Philharmonia Choir sang Brahms’ German Requiem in the same way.  The score calls also for timpani, whereas Carmina Burana needed a full percussion section.  Brahms arranged the accompaniment himself for an early performance of the work, held in a London society drawing room, on which occasion four hands played the same piano.  Interest in this version has grown over recent years:  it has even been recorded, and the current thinking is to spread the four hands over two pianos.

The SMH critic enjoyed the performance, as indeed I did.  There were some electric quiet moments, and some terrifying loud sections.  At times the choir overwhelmed the pianos, and, as a bass, I did miss the trombones’ support in the sweeping upwards phrases towards the end of the sixth movement.  But overall the whole ensemble was most effective.

It is unlikely that two pianos will become the new orchestra.  When Manly Warringah Choir sang the German Requiem in 2007 we used a full orchestra to good effect. Certainly for our next concert, Messiah, our audiences can look forward to hearing a full complement of players including, of course trumpets, and timpani.  The trumpet shall sound!

The Choir performs Messiah on Saturday December 3rd at 7.30pm and on Sunday December 4th at 4.00pm.  Both performances will be held in the Cardinal Cerretti Chapel, Darley Road, Manly.

7:30pm Saturday December 3rd
Click here for Saturday Tickets

4:00pm Sunday December 4th
Click here for Sunday Tickets