A Reflection on Oriana's latest triumph
On Saturday and Sunday, August 17th and 18th, the Sunshine Coast’s acclaimed Oriana Choir presented a concert of beautiful, uplifting, often thrilling music at Gympie’s St. Patrick’s Church and Maroochydore’s Stella Maris Performance Centre. Reflections: Songs of Love and Hope, was a programme of songs ancient and modern, sacred and secular, meditative and stirring, all performed with Oriana’s characteristic warmth, professionalism and dedication to excellence.
Conducted with much energy and charisma by the inimitable Kim Kirkman; accompanied by the sublimely gifted Fay Baker, OAM; and with delightful contributions from tenor Tobias Merz; Oriana brought a rich and varied assortment of songs, reflecting on many aspects of Love and Hope, to very receptive, appreciative and enthusiastic audiences.
The programme opened with ‘Festival Sanctus’ – a modern and uplifting setting of the traditional Latin hymn of praise to God – and continued with a succession of songs that were at times stirring (‘My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord’); pensive (‘Ubi Caritas’ – where charity and love are, God is there); heart-rending (‘Even When He is Silent’, ‘Prayer of the Children’); joyous (‘Sway’); and simply beautiful (‘Ave Maria’, ‘The Cloths of Heaven’).
Highlights included a lovely rendition of ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’, as featured in the much-loved “The Vicar of Dibley”; an achingly beautiful a cappella performance by the ladies, of Billy Joel’s “Lullabye”; “Sure on This Shining Night”, which is as near a perfect ‘art song’ as one could wish for; and a thrilling, rousing, gospel interpretation of Paul Simon’s masterpiece, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
The concert concluded, most aptly, with “What the World Needs Now”, eliciting standing ovations from the delighted audiences. One particularly appreciative patron later wrote a letter of thanks to the Choir. Some of her comments are representative of things said by many audience members after the concert:
“This afternoon’s performance took us on a journey of the soul and touched our hearts deeply. What powerful performances!
Congratulations on your excellence in presentation and performance.“
Oriana’s next project is a programme showcasing two works by one of the twentieth century’s most respected and popular composers, John Rutter. Kim Kirkman will conduct Oriana, accompanied by the Sinfonia of St. Andrew’s, for two performances of these wonderful choral works, at Maleny State Primary School and Stella Maris Performance Centre, Maroochydore, on November 16th and 17th respectively. Oriana relishes every opportunity to work with Kim, whose commitment to excellence in every project he takes on is unequalled. And the Choir looks forward with great enthusiasm to the prospect of performing once again to the music lovers of Maleny.
Performances
Saturday, November 16th, 2.00 pm – Maleny State Primary School
Sunday, November 17th, 2.00 pm - Stella Maris Performance Centre, Maroochydore
For bookings and information, go to www.oriana.org.au
Oriana is proudly supported by
Storage Direct Sippy Downs
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