The Seasons

Saturday 1 April

Llewellyn Hall, ANU

The Canberra Choral Society (CCS) and National Capital Orchestra (NCO) are excited to continue their series 
of annual collaborations with the presentation of The Seasons by Franz Joseph Haydn.

Conducted by Louis Sharpe, with Chorus Master Dan Walker, the two organisations will come 
together on the Llewellyn Hall stage with soloists Sarahlouise Owens (Soprano), Ryan
 O’Donnell (Tenor) and Sitiveni Talei (Bass), and with narration by Laura Tingle.

Coming Home

Saturday 17 June, 6.00pm

Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest

Canberra Choral Society presents an exquisite program of choral music in Coming Home.

Featuring the world premiere of Dan Walker’s The Last Migration, commissioned in late 2022 by CCS to commemorate its 70th anniversary, this beautiful new work for choir and string ensemble is a setting of celebrated Australian poet A D Hope’s vivid and touching poem The Death of the Bird.

The program also presents Ola Gjeilo’s sonorous and uplifting Sunrise Mass for choir and string orchestra, which was partly influenced by the films and film scores loved by Gjeilo.

Two evocative choral works by Sally Whitwell include Lux Aeterna, dedicated “in loving memory of the Orlando USA shootings of 12 June 2016, and Home, a setting of her own heartwarming text.

The concert will be directed by Dan Walker, CCS Music Director, together with a string ensemble and with pianist and repetiteur Dr Anthony Smith.

Bach

Saturday 16 September

All Saints Church, Ainslie

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) provides a thrilling experience for choir and audience alike.

In September, Canberra Choral Society will present a program of some of Bach’s most loved choral music in the intimate setting of All Saints Church, Ainslie, accompanied by a select group of continuo instruments - cello and organ.

Expect to be transported by such delights as motets Lobet den Herrn and Jesu Meine Freude, and entertained by gems such as the Coffee Cantata.

Elijah

Saturday 25 November
7.30 pm

Llewellyn Hall, ANU

Canberra Choral Society continues the tradition of presenting a large-scale choral work at the end of the year, inviting its friends to Come and Sing with the choir and large-scale orchestra in Llewellyn Hall, ANU.

The work chosen for November 2023 is Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847).

Exciting episodes from the life of Biblical prophet Elijah are presented by four soloists, eight-part choir and orchestra, culminating in grand choruses of praise and prophecy.

Mendelssohn was central to the revival of Bach’s music in Germany, Europe, and eventually worldwide, and it is fitting that CCS follows up the September concert of music by Bach with this significant offering of Elijah.