David Farquhar - Moonshine Suite (2002)
The Moonshine Suite was completed it in 2002. The composer had felt disappointed that the various suites based on his incidental music for the Jean Anouilh/Christopher Fry play Ring Round the Moon had eclipsed his more serious writing in popularity. Nevertheless, he eventually came to feel that he should write something in a similarly popular vein. The result was the Moonshine Suite. (The similarity to the dances in Ring Round the Moon will be obvious).
The suite is in six movements:
Medley
Serenade
Rhumba
Waltz
Why not
Finale
ROSS HARRIS: Music for Jonny
Ross Harris’s “Music for Jonny” is the composer’s musical response to the untimely death of his nephew. Written for strings, it is bookended by harmonically tantalising sections of great solemnity and glacial pacing. In the leavened middle section we hear violin, cello and viola soli and arpeggiated and oscillating figures.
Audio recorded by Bjorn Arntsen. Film funded by NZ On Air.
Conducted byr Peter Walls, with David Bremner (trombone). With an introduction to the pūkaea by Te Reiroa Sellars.
Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 7 October 2022.
Audio recorded by Regan McKinnon (The Porch Recording Studio) Video recorded by Vincent Manoit (Liquid Pictures).
Excerpt from Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic programme (filmed in March 2021 in an empty hall due to Covid-lockdown).
Excerpt from Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic programme (filmed in March 2021 in an empty hall due to Covid-lockdown).
Excerpt from Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic programme (filmed in March 2021 in an empty hall due to Covid-lockdown).
Excerpt from Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic programme (filmed in March 2021 in an empty hall due to Covid-lockdown). Composer Philip Norman has set poems and stories by Margaret Mahy to music.
Excerpt from Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic programme (filmed in March 2021 in an empty hall due to Covid-lockdown).
Excerpt from Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic programme (filmed in March 2021 in an empty hall due to Covid-lockdown).
An interview with Music Director Peter Walls and Concert Master Lara Hall, as well as flautist Anita Macdonald about what makes Opus Orchestra so special. A shared passion for classical music and performing it with professionalism, integrity and honesty are what drives our musicians.
An interview with Music Director Peter Walls about "Why Opus Orchestra Matters" and is important to our region. With huge thanks to Vinnie Manoit at Liquid Pictures for our 🎥 and lowercase g for our beautiful 30th Anniversary logo!
Opus Orchestra musicians talk about why the orchestra matters to them and what makes it so special.