“MAGIC, Miracles and Mysteries” are coming to Dunkeld in the form of three concerts by the internationally acclaimed Australian Chamber Choir, beginning Saturday, March 4, from 3-4pm, at the Dunkeld Community Centre, Sterling Place.
Dunkeld resident and music lover, Peter Flinn, said it was a “feather in Dunkeld’s cap” for the town to host this major ensemble.
Australian Chamber Choir director, Douglas Lawrence, founded the Choir in 2007, who perform around sixteen concerts each year, in Melbourne and regional centres, as well as undertaking regular international tours.
In 2019, the choir sang in Bach’s church, St Thomas in Leipzig, Germany, to great acclaim, as well as at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and several other European venues.
Mr Flinn reminded locals that the choir performed regularly during the long-running Southern Grampians Promenade of Sacred Music, and that its most recent concert in Hamilton featured Fauré’s Requiem.
He added that one of their talented young singers, Samuel Rowe, hails from Hamilton.
The choir specialises in a cappella works from the Renaissance to the present day, and also major works with orchestra.
The choir’s first concert in Dunkeld will include works by Renaissance composers William Byrd and John Wilbye, together with the famous “Nimrod” from Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
The town will also experience the first Australian performance of the motet “There was a wedding in Cana” by Orlando di Lasso (1532-94).
Douglas Lawrence explains “this tells the story of my favourite miracle - Jesus turning the water into wine!”
Also included is the first ever performance of a musical version, by young Melbourne composer Alex Owens, of the poem “The Gate of the Year”, which the late Queen enjoyed as a child.
“We are really fortunate to have the Australian Chamber Choir perform in Dunkeld, and the concert program on 4th March is guaranteed to be medicine for the soul,” Mr Flinn said.
Accommodation and ticket packages are available with more information and bookings to be made at auschoir.org
