CBS Music

Cathedral of the

Blessed Sacrament

Choir & Orchestra

PO Box 10069

Christchurch

New Zealand

Website www.cathedral.org.nz

Email don.whelan@xtra.co.nz

Notices

Wednesday at One

The weekly Wednesday at One Pro-Cathedral concert series continues to attract a supportive audience, and presents a variety of soloists, ensembles and orchestras. Besides experienced local professional players, opportunities are provided for advanced performers from Canterbury University, and some local secondary schools.

Music at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral

The Cathedral Choir and Orchestra sing a Solemn Choral Mass at 11 am each Sunday at the Christchurch Catholic Pro-Cathedral, where they maintain an extensive repertoire of masses and motets. New members are welcome to the 7.30 pm Wednesday evening rehearsal at the CBS Music Centre, beside the Pro-Cathedral, at 373 Manchester Street, Christchurch. Sight reading ability is expected. Those interested are invited to contact the CBS Musical Director, Don Whelan, phone 358-5873.

Town Hall Concert

The CBS Choir featured at a Town Hall concert on Friday, January 27, 2023, as guests of singer-composer Marlon Williams. They sang a selection of favourite choral pieces, chosen from Marlon’s time with the choir, which included touring to the Baltic States, Portugal and Spain.

2024 Concert Music

The musical concert year for CBS Music opened on Sunday, 11 November, with a set of Five Summer Songs for orchestra and harpsichord, written and conducted by Christchurch composer Chris Adams. The programme begins and ends with two substantial works by J.S. Bach:  Suite No. 2 In B Minor, featuring flutist Elvira Dommisse, and Cantata No. 4: Christ lay in death's strong bands. Handel's charming Organ Concerto No. 3 was played by Gabriel Baird, and conducted by Henry Nicholson. Composer anniversaries for 2024 were marked by Bruckner’s evocative Locus Iste, and the haunting Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine, conducted by Matthew Harris. The cathedral orchestra is led by Natalia M. Lomeiko, and musical director is Don Whelan, who last year initiated a new vocal ensemble to explore Bach Cantatas.

This Chorale also joins the orchestra to perform Cantata 21 Worthy ss the Lamb, on 17 March, after Mozart's Prague Symphony 38, and the Burckner Os Justi. Besides the traditional CBS Good Friday Bach St John Passion,  the wonderful Bach B Minor Mass is planned for 9 June. Experienced local singers are encouraged to lend their support to the Chorale, which rehearses for a limited period before each orchestral concert featuring choral items.

The customary Haydn concert on 15 September couples Miracle Symphony 96 with the Theresienmesse, and the 2024 Bruckner year is commemorated by his Mass in E Minor on 3 November and Mass in D Minor at the Christmas Midnight Mass.

In 2024, CBS Music continues its popular Lunch Plus Wednesday At One recital series, hosts the annual Christchurch Choral Festival on 11 August, and presents its Christmas Messiah at 1.30 pm on Sunday, 1 December.