“Bach,” a name synonymous with musical genius. But what about Bach 30? It may not be a composer. It may be a place where music comes alive.
Bach Musica NZ might shed light on Bach 30. This ensemble is New Zealand’s only professional orchestra. It has a semi-professional choir. They perform music from Baroque to the twenty-first century. Their concerts often feature NZ premieres. The music is beautiful. It comes from all over the world.
Rita Paczian is the Music and Artistic Director. She is a freelance conductor. Rita performs in New Zealand and abroad. She has guest conducted in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and the United States.
Imagine attending a Bach Musica NZ concert. The ensemble is performing at Bach 30. The sounds of strings, woodwinds, and voices fill the air. The choir’s harmonies soar. The orchestra’s melodies dance. Rita Paczian conducts with passion and precision.
Perhaps Bach 30 hosts their Concert One. It features Spanish Guitar & Misa Tango NZ Premiere. Stephanie Poole plays the Accordion. Barkin Sertkaya strums the Guitar. Felicity Tomkins sings Soprano. Andrew Conley sings Baritone.
Or maybe Bach 30 is the venue for Concert Two. Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Minor fills the space. C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat rings out. Madeliene Xiao plays the Piano. Joanna Foote sings Soprano. Katie Trigg sings Alto. Taliai Fifita sings Tenor. Edward Laurenson sings Baritone.
Concert Three could showcase World Premiers & Bach. Gina Sanders sings Soprano. Stephen Diaz sings Countertenor. The music is new and exciting.
The Best of Bach & Handel might be performed. Elizabeth Mandeno sings Soprano. Christie Cook sings Alto. Iain Tetley sings Tenor. James Harrison sings Baritone. The classics resonate deeply.
Bach Musica NZ also had past concerts. In 2023 Concert One featured Bach’s St John Passion. Alexandra Francis sang Soprano. Cecily Shaw sang Alto. Sid Chand sang Tenor Arias. Henry Choo was the Evangelist. Sam McKeever sang Christ. James Ioelu sang Bass.
Concert Two included Poulenc’s Gloria and Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. Barkin Sertkaya played Guitar. Katherine Winitana sang Soprano. A world premiere by Bramah Kai Pothio was also performed. It was called Kai Maomai.
Schumann’s Requiem was part of Concert Three. Philip Sumner played Bassoon. Emma Roxburgh sang Soprano. Charlotte McDonald sang Alto. Lachlan Craig sang Tenor. Joel Amosa sang Bass.
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio was performed in Concert Four. Joanna Foote sang Soprano. Stephen Diaz sang Countertenor. Iain Tetley sang Tenor. James Harrison sang Bass.
In 2024 Concert One featured Bach’s B minor Mass. Brandenburg Concerto No 3 was also performed. Elizabeth Mandeno sang Soprano. Christie Cook sang Alto. Iain Tetley sang Tenor. James Harrison sang Bass.
Concert Two included Dvorak’s Mass in D major. Yanghe Yu played Violin. Emma McClean sang Soprano. Kate Spence sang Alto. Taylor Wallbank sang Tenor. Joel Amosa sang Bass.
A Special Gala Concert featured music by various composers. Yanghe Yu and Christine Lee played Violins. Paul Mitchell played Cello. Elizabeth Mandeno and Joanna Foote sang Sopranos. Taylor Wallbank sang Tenor. Rosemary Barnes played Piano.
Concert Three showcased Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 2. Gina Sanders and Emma Jones sang Sopranos. Ridge Ponini sang Tenor.
Baroque Favourites included music by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. Yanghe Yu and Vanesssa Tam played Violin. Paul Mitchell played Cello.
Bach 30 seems to be a place where beautiful music thrives. It is home to Bach Musica NZ’s captivating performances. It brings classical music to life.