The 49th Intervarsity Choral Festival: MELBOURNE, 23 January-8 February 1998

Patrons: Sir William Deane (Governor General), The Hon. Jeffrey Kennett (Premier), Prof. Alan Gilbert (VC University of Melbourne), Prof. David Robinson (VC Monash University) Chorusmasters: Ben Macpherson, Andrew Wailes
Accompanists: Jonathan Bradley, Michael Winikoff
Camp Venue: Campaspe Downs Country Resort, Kyneton
Participants: SCUNA, AUCS, FUCS, MUS, MUCS, MonUCS, MuscUTS, PUCS, QUMS, SUMS, TUMS
FIBS: GIMP (General Information for MIV Participants)

COMMITTEE

Convenor: Andrew Wailes
Secretary: Michael Winikoff
Treasurer: Andrew Scott
Camp Officer: Justin Presser
ConMan: Andrew Wailes
Fundraising: Leanne Veitch
Librarian: Kim Asher
Publicity: Winston Todd
Social Secretary: Nicholas Cowall
Transport & Billeting: Philip Wilkie
General Assistants: Luke Murtagh
Sponsorship: Joyce Chan
Corporate Advertising: Melissa Mackey
MUCS Representative: Kate McMullen
MonUCS Representative: Dave Young
Stage Manager/Technical Officer: Andrew Howell

CONCERT 1

8pm, 3 Feb., Melbourne Concert Hall
Conductor: Christopher Bell
Soloists: Irene Waugh
Program: Shostakovich Festive Overture, Prokofiev Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Borodin Polovtsian Dances from "Prince Igor", Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky
Notes: For the Victorian Arts Centre. With the State Orchestra of Victoria. Russian Coach: Nicholas Cowall
Review: Clive O’Connell, “A little rushin’ in the Russian”, Age, 5 Feb. 1998: B5. “Things took a much-needed turn for the better when the intervarsity choir stood up to take part in the night’s solitary Tsarist contribution … The opening Chorus of Slavewomen [in the Borodin] brought a compelling warmth from the alto forces. This kind of singing, ardent and committed, can’t be completely explained by the age of most in the choir but youthful enthusiasm must be a factor. When the large male contingent blazed into the Polovtsians’ vehement panegyric of Khan Konchak, the concert suddenly came to life. This was excellent singing, a powerful and vehement sound that made you wonder why we endure pallid, by-the-numbers performances from other choral bodies with longer rehearsal time and more experienced singers … Nevertheless, the pitching from all parts of the choir was remarkably accurate and the large body’s attention to note lengths and dynamics exemplary.”

CONCERT 2

8.30pm, 7 Feb., Church of St Mary Star of the Sea, West Melbourne
Conductor: Graham Abbott
Program: G. Gabrieli Jubilate Deo à 8, Praetorius Wie schön leuchtet, Stanford Beati quorum via, Bortniansky Te Deum for double choir [Australian premiere], Tavener Song for Athene, Thompson Alleluia, Rachmaninov Vespers [excerpts], Timothy Sexton An Australian Alleluia [World premiere]
Notes: The Sexton work was specially commissioned for the festival. Org: Andrew Bainbridge, Piano: Jonathan Bradley. Works by Farnaby, Speer and Beethoven played by Canzona Brass.
Review: Clive O’Connell, Age, 9 Feb. 1998: C5. “As with last Tuesday’s Alexander Nevsky, the singing reached moments of excellence, even if the patchwork program had a few fillers … Both Russian works on the program brought out the notable qualities of the choir: a powerful male sound spectrum, distinctive altos, a group of sopranos unafraid of challenges … splendid music, but here as precisely enunciated as Sutherland singing Meyerbeer. The premiere of Timothy Sexton’s three-movement Australian Alleluia came at the end of the night, close to 10.30, and sounded pleasant enough, if lightweight … it breaks no new ground, but is a fine example of workmanship and compositional conservatism … The Intervarsity Choral Festival will not be back in Melbourne for another seven years. On this week’s showing it will be worth the wait.”

Add links to your story and other related pages here...


Previous festival: PIV1997 Next festival: 50IV

AICSAPedia: MIV1998 (last edited 2020-02-09 10:07:33 by cpe-60-224-22-30)