Blenheim choral hit right notes at pop up performance
Sound of music: Blenheim Choral members with musical director Robert Tucker, pianist Gwenette Elliott and page turner Lindy Knowles entertained visitors to Te Kahu o Waipuna, Marlborough Library. Photo: Supplied.
Some talented singers have been raising not just their voices but some eyebrows too as they took a piano on a town centre adventure.
The community piano was on the move as part of a pop-up performance by Blenheim Choral at Te Kahu o Waipuna, Marlborough Library on Sunday.
Wheeling the piano across Blenheim from the Wesley Centre to the library, members gave people reason to smile as they spotted the unusual sight.
The piano was soon set up in the library’s foyer where singers made the most of the acoustics, treating members of the public to a special pop-up performance.
The Blenheim performance will feature more than 50 local singers, three soloists, two pianists and five percussionists.
The library stairs offered delighted audience members the perfect place to sit and enjoy several songs.
As voices lifted together in song, visitors were brought to a standstill, listening to the performance of Carman Burana.
The themes in Carmina Burana of fate, fortune, love, lust and drinking still resonate in the 21st Century, says musical director Robert Tucker.
“We all want love in our lives and a good time and people still draw on luck. Carmina Burana connects past and present in a thrilling and very accessible way,”
Members were accompanied on the piano by Gwenette Elliott, 89, who has been rehearsing with the choir for 5 years.
The former secondary school teacher also accompanied Bella Voce, now called Ovation, and was herself a singer, conductor and accompanist in NZ and overseas.
Chorist Joy Stephens says she hopes the taster will encourage people to book tickets to Saturday’s concert.
“The pop-up will definitely be Carmina Burana 'lite'... and will give a taste of the different moods of the music from intense to quite romantic and dreamy.
“It will give a small taste which will hopefully encourage people to want to hear more.”
The percussionists and pianists will get together on Wednesday and the choir will join them on Thursday for another rehearsal.
“We won't all come together with percussionists etc until next Thursday and that's where Robert will do his magic and meld us altogether for the big night,” Joy says.
To buy tickets visit https://bit.ly/3snUXQM