ABOUT US
Since its formation in 1991 with the merger of two long-standing choirs, the Christchurch City Choir has performed works from the established repertoire, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Verdi’s Requiem. It has also explored less widely known works such as Benjamin Britten’s St Nicolas and Spring Symphony. The Last Night of the Proms and the ANZAC concert are regular enhancements to the musical mix with jazz, Broadway programmes and concerts for choir, organ and brass adding a popular note.
The choir regularly performs with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in the Christchurch Town Hall and featured in the inaugural concerts for the Rieger pipe organ. Its versatility and commitment to Christchurch was highlighted when it appeared on the rugby field, singing the popular theme song of the Canterbury Crusaders. At its Southern Horizon concert in 2000, the choir produced the dynamic, newly commissioned work, Ahua, which it performed again in 2004. The choir regularly performs in major concerts for the Christchurch Arts Festival. Carl Orff’s extraordinary Camina Burana opened the 2005 Festival and the performances of the unique and inspiring Missa Gaia, using the combined resources of the Christchurch City Choir and the Auckland Choral Society were an unforgettable celebration of earth and nature. Other highlights of the choir’s performances include Mozart’s inspiring Requiem, Beethoven’s sublime Missa Solemnis and the intense choral Rachmaninoff Vespers. Elgar’s Belshazzars Feast was an exciting feature of the 2007 Festival and the choir continued its highly successful series of Sunday concerts in ChristChurch Cathedral.