Sunday 2 August at 2.30pm
Tākiri Ensemble
“There was just a ripple of delight … people were totally won over … there was this lovely feeling of having been at something special” – Rodney Macann (Upbeat)
Programme
“Sure on this Shining Night”
Beethoven: Collection of songs
Mahler: Lieder from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Songs by Poulenc, Quilter and Rossini
Works by American composers: Aaron Copland and Morten Lauridsen.
Emma Pearson soprano, Robert Tucker baritone, Kirsten Robertson piano
Declan Cudd tenor, Maaike Beekman mezzo soprano
We welcome a return visit from the Tākiri Ensemble, an exciting vocal ensemble of New Zealand musicians – four opera singers and a pianist. Emma Pearson (soprano), Robert Tucker (baritone), Kirsten Robertson (piano), Declan Cudd (tenor), Maaike Beekman (mezzo soprano)
The Tākiri Ensemble is usually led by Anna Leese, but Anna is at home in Dunedin with a new baby, so for this concert she will be replaced by highly regarded soprano Emma Pearson. Other musicians in the group include the experienced mezzo-soprano Maaike Beekman, who has performed widely in Europe and New Zealand, and tenor Declan Cudd, a 2017 Freemasons New Zealand Opera Artist. Baritone Robert Tucker sang opera professionally in England and Japan before returning to New Zealand where he appears regularly with New Zealand Opera.
Kirsten Robertson, one of this country’s most experienced vocal accompanists, has worked with such greats as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major.
The programme will include solos, duos and ensembles by a wide variety of composers