Noël! Noël! Featuring the Brandenburg Choir Noël! Noël! Featuring the Brandenburg Choir Morgan Balfour (San Francisco) soprano 2019 Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Brandenburg Choir SYDNEY Matthew Manchester Conductor City Recital Hall Paul Dyer AO Artistic Director, Conductor Saturday 14 December 5:00PM Saturday 14 December 7:30PM PROGRAM Wednesday 18 December 5:00PM Mendelssohn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Wednesday 18 December 7:30PM Anonymous Sonata à 9 Gjeilo Prelude MELBOURNE Eccard Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier Melbourne Recital Centre Crüger Im finstern Stall, o Wunder groβ Saturday 7 December 5:00PM Palestrina ‘Kyrie’ from Missa Gabriel Archangelus Saturday 7 December 7:30PM Arbeau Ding Dong! Merrily on High Handel ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion’ NEWTOWN from Messiah, HWV 56 Friday 6 December 7:00PM Head The Little Road to Bethlehem Gjeilo The Ground PARRAMATTA Tuesday 10 December 7:30PM Vivaldi La Folia, RV 63 Handel Eternal source of light divine, HWV 74 MOSMAN Traditional Deck the Hall Wednesday 11 December 7:00PM Traditional The Coventry Carol WAHROONGA Traditional O Little Town of Bethlehem Thursday 12 December 7:00PM Traditional God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Palmer A Sparkling Christmas WOOLLAHRA Adam O Holy Night Monday 16 December 7:00PM Gruber Stille Nacht Anonymous O Come, All Ye Faithful CHAIRMAN’S 11 Proudly supporting our guest artists. Concert duration is approximately 75 minutes without an interval. Please note concert duration is approximate only and subject to change. We kindly request that you switch off all electronic devices prior to the performance. This concert will be broadcast on ABC Classic on 21 December at 8:00PM NOËL! NOËL! 1 Biography From our Principal Partner: Macquarie Group Paul Dyer Imagination & Connection Paul Dyer is one of Australia’s leading specialists On behalf of Macquarie Group, it is my great pleasure to in period performance. welcome you to the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s sixth concert series of 2019 – Noël! Noël! Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir, A traditional fixture on the annual Brandenburg including the 1998, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2010 concert calendar, Artistic Director Paul Dyer ARIA Awards for Best Classical Album. presents an energetic and vibrant repertoire of festive classics in Noël! Noël! Paul has performed with many international soloists including Andreas Scholl, Cyndia Sieden, This year is Macquarie’s twelfth year as the Marc Destrubé, Christoph Prégardien, Hidemi Brandenburg’s Principal Partner and what makes Suzuki, Manfredo Kraemer, Andrew Manze, this relationship so rewarding is our shared vision Yvonne Kenny, Emma Kirkby, Philippe Jaroussky of opportunity and our commitment to the very and many others. In 1998 he made his debut in highest standards of performance. Tokyo with countertenor Derek Lee Ragin, leading This year, the Brandenburg has yet again delighted an ensemble of Brandenburg soloists, and in audiences across Australia with a program August 2001 Paul toured the orchestra to Europe showcasing artistic excellence and innovation. with guest soloist Andreas Scholl. In 2015, he was As a proud partner of a truly unique and distinctive featured on the soundtrack of the James Bond institution within the cultural landscape of Australia, 007 movie, Spectre. Macquarie looks forward to celebrating Season 2020 Paul co-founded the Brandenburg in 1989 after A passionate cook, entertainer, foodie, teacher, with the Brandenburg. completing postgraduate studies at the Royal swimmer and traveller, he is friends with people and Congratulations to Bruce Applebaum, Paul Dyer, Conservatorium in The Hague, and has been artists from Istanbul to India and Japan to Italy, and the Orchestra and Choir for another memorable Artistic Director and conductor since that time. creates a unique platform for overseas performing concert year. We are proud to be supporting He is a performing artist comfortable in his unique artists to work with him and the Brandenburg the highest calibre of musicians who come from music arena – whether working in ancient music, in Australia. across Australia and continually deliver outstanding contemporary music, opera, with artists such as Among his list of achievements, Paul was awarded performances to audiences throughout the country. circus performers, contemporary dance, the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2013 or visual art. His busy performing schedule in We wish you a happy festive season, and we hope for his ‘distinguished service to the performing arts Europe, Asia, the USA and Canada over the years you enjoy Noël! Noël! in Australia’. Paul is Patron of St Gabriel’s School has synchronised perfectly alongside his bold for Hearing Impaired Children. In 2003 Paul was stage work in Australia. awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for Paul is an inspiring teacher and has been a staff his services to Australian society and the member at various conservatories throughout the advancement of music, and in 2010 Paul was world. In 1995 he received a Churchill Fellowship awarded the Sydney University Alumni Medal Sean West and he has won numerous international and for Professional Achievement. Head of Macquarie Wealth Management national awards for his CD recordings with the 2 AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA NOËL! NOËL! 3 26 FEBRUARY – 13 MARCH 10–19 SEPTEMBER Vivaldi’s Notre- Season Venice Dame Visit Vivaldi’s Venice with extraordinary French The rich musical tradition of Notre-Dame told in harpist Xavier de Maistre in a performance a theatrical concert experience entwining music for 2020 shimmering with light and colour. orchestra and choir with spoken word and song. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAM Vivaldi Concerto for harp (lute) in D major, RV 93 Featuring music by French composers Campra, Lully, Marcello Concerto for harp (oboe) in D minor, S D935 Rameau, Rebel and more. Vivaldi L’inverno, Concerto for harp (violin) in F minor, Compose RV 297 Your Own 30 APRIL – 15 MAY 22 OCTOBER – 6 NOVEMBER subscription Mozart’s Ottoman Clarinet Baroque package Mozart’s bright and achingly beautiful basset The mesmerising Whirling Dervishes are steeped in clarinet concerto performed on the rare and mystique and will return from Turkey to dazzle in today richly voiced instrument of the period. Paul Dyer’s musical meditation. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAM Mozart Concerto for oboe in C major, K 314 A pasticcio featuring Allegri, Boccherini, Lully, W.F. Bach Adagio e Fuga, F 65 Marais, Telemann, and traditional music from Turkey. Mozart Concerto for basset clarinet in A major, K 622 16–31 JULY 5–16 DECEMBER Bach’s Noël! Violin Noël! Thrilling German Baroque violinist Gather your family and friends together this Jonas Zschenderlein joins Brandenburg string Christmas and spend a joyous evening sharing soloists to perform concertos, sonatas and a rare carols, medieval hymns and a cheeky Compose Your Own subscription packages are suite by Bach. musical surprise. new for 2020 and are best for those who value ultimate flexibility on performance dates, seats PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAM and locations for each concert in the season. Bach Concerto for violin in E major, BWV 1042 Filled with timeless carols including EMMA WILLIAMS Bach Concerto for three violins in D major, BWV 1064R O Come, All Ye Faithful, Stille Nacht and BAROQUE VIOLIN brandenburg.com.au Bach Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 many musical surprises. From the Co-Founder & Artistic Director Paul Dyer The Brandenburg’s 30th Anniversary season has been a year-long celebration. Throughout the year I have been reminded of The 2020 Season opens in February with the return the power of friendship and family. I have been of extraordinary French harpist Xavier de Maistre performing with some of my colleagues for who will star in Vivaldi’s Venice. If you haven’t more than 30 years, but have also shared the subscribed already, I encourage you to do so stage for the first time with new members of the before the Christmas rush to secure the best seats. Brandenburg during this special year. Friendships I’m delighted that in Melbourne we will be adding like these have been the foundation of the a regular Thursday night performance to our Brandenburg since our first concert at the Sydney existing schedule. Opera House in 1990 and continue to catapult us A special thank you to the people who have forward with creative energy. supported this Brandenburg throughout the year. The Brandenburg’s 30th Anniversary season has Thank you to my Co-Founder Bruce Applebaum and been a year-long celebration. The Brandenburg to the entire Brandenburg team for making this year stage was shared by 91 musicians, 16 associate something extremely special. To my instrumentalists, artists and 194 energetic young singers who share choristers, soloists and technicians, you are all a collective love of Baroque music. amazing. When creating the programme for this 20th Wishing you all a joyful and safe festive season! Noël! Noël! series, I was thinking of friendships, of family and of traditions. I was also captivated by the agility and purity of enchanting young Australian soprano Morgan Balfour’s voice. Morgan received first prize at the 7th annual Handel Aria Competition in the United States in Paul Dyer AO June this year, and she will make her Brandenburg Co-Founder & Artistic Director debut performing a selection of exquisite aria and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra songs with my gorgeous Choir and Orchestra. PHOTO6 CREDIT: STEVEN GODBEE AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA NOËL! NOËL! 7 From our 30th Anniversary Presenting Partner: APA Group Biography Connecting Australia to Baroque Music Morgan Balfour APA Group is proud to support the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Australian soprano Morgan Balfour, “blessed with a name, a voice and as 30th Anniversary Presenting Partner of Noël! Noël! a stage presence destined to go far” (ADELAIDE NOW) is quickly garnering We are delighted to welcome you to this performance. attention in both the United States and here at home.