April Newsletter
Easter is over for 2023. We hope that you were able to enjoy some of the musical highlights from St Peter’s Cathedral over Easter, whether a service or a concert. The Cathedral was filled to capacity with over 600 people for the Good Friday Meditation Concert, featuring the Requiem by John Rutter - how wonderful for audience and performers alike!
April
This week sees a very special visit to the Cathedral by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, for their concert “Magnificence” featuring the Poulenc Organ Concerto, played by Dr Joseph Nolan, and conducted by Anthony Hunt. It is heart-warming that the restoration of the Cathedral Organ has enabled it again to feature at the heart of musical life in Adelaide - a wonderful underlining of the work done by supporters of the Cathedral Music Foundation across the recent restoration project. Details of the performances are at https://www.aso.com.au/events/sacred-profane-1-magnificence/
May
A highlight of May will be a special Evensong on Sunday 15th May, featuring the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan. This is presented as part of the State Opera of South Australia’s Gilbert & Sullivan Festival which runs during May. Whilst it is a “normal” Evensong, it will feature a variety of music by Sullivan, including the Te Deum written for the end of the Boer War; and a special set of Preces and Responses, composed by our Director of Music Anthony Hunt, using (in a slightly cheeky fashion) themes from the famous Gilbert & Sullivan operas. You might spot flashes of The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore to name a few, at this unusual service where you’ll also get to sing some of Sullivan’s great hymn tunes.
Registration for the service is essential, as we expect a large congregation - visit https://gandsfest.com/event/sacred-sullivan/ to ensure your name is at the door.
June
June brings a significant and exciting month of organ music in our 2023 Concert Series.
On Sunday June 4th at 2pm, we welcome Simon Nieminski, who presents his extraordinary transcription of Rachmaninov’s 2nd Symphony. This symphony is utterly captivating music, luscious and filled with the most passionate tunes, just like his famous piano concertos. It will be a real thrill to see Simon’s skill at the keyboard in performing this virtuosic work on our magnificent organ - in honour of Rachmaninov’s 150th birthday.
And on Saturday 24th June, we have the opportunity to hear Rachel Mahon, a Canadian/British organist, Director of Music at Coventry Cathedral, who visits Sydney and Adelaide to perform, and to work with our choirs. She will present a fascinating and colourful program of music including great music by Canadian Composers. The Symphony by Rachel Laurin is an extraordinary work, powerful, virtuosic and beautiful - one not to be missed! She will also conduct the choir at the service on Sunday 25th June - St Peter’s Day celebrations.
Make sure you have tickets for at least one of these fabulous and unique recitals – even better if you come to both, as you certainly won’t be disappointed!
July
And in July, the Cathedral Choir Winter School will run in the second week of the school holidays - looking for the next generation of young choristers! If you know any children aged 7-10 who you think might love singing and the music at the Cathedral, please point parents to the Music Foundation website for information about this important program.