This concert celebrates the rich relationship between the University of Canterbury and the wider Christchurch community, and CSO in particular.
This concert celebrates the rich relationship between the University of Canterbury and the wider Christchurch community, and in particular our relationship with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. You’ll hear music that evokes our unique cityscape in sound, favourite songs from our shared journey as a city, and new pieces which showcase composers and performers working in our midst in the university community.
John Ritchie’s Papanui Rd Overture is one of the most iconic sonic portrayals of Christchurch’s city life. Ritchie—Head of Music at UC from 1916 to 1981—fondly recalls his connection to the area, saying, "Having lived near Papanui Road for most of my life; having cycled, driven and walked on it; having shopped, eaten and prayed in or on it, I feel at home there. As young people say, it has 'vibes' for me."
Soul and pop singer, LA Mitchell, one of Christchurch’s real treasures (and also a tutor in songwriting and contemporary voice at UC), will perform four of her best-known songs featuring arrangements by UC alumnus, Alex van den Broek.
Rakuto Kurano’s Concerto Grosso and Reuben de Lautour’s Suite, both draw on the past and look to the future. Kurano, a recent Masters graduate from UC, blends the sound world of the Italian baroque with a contemporary aesthetic, producing a dazzling fusion of old and new.
Conducted by UC Music’s Head of Performance, Professor Mark Menzies, join us for an evening exploring the past, present, and future of music in Christchurch.
