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Keeping you in tune with music and the arts, with David Morriss
CATALANI: Ebben?...Ne andrò lontana, from La Wally - Maria Callas (sop), Philharmonia/Tullio Serafin (EMI CDC 7 47282)
BEACH: Symphony in E minor, Gaelic (2) - Nashville SO/Kenneth Schermerhorn (Naxos 8.559139)
TAVENER: Song for Athene - Nota Bene/Peter de Blois (Nota Bene NB001)
BACH: Violin Sonata No 1 in B minor BWV1014 - Isabelle Faust (vln), Kristian Bezuidenhout (harpsichord) (Harmonia Mundi HMM90225657)
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No 5 in Eb Op 73, Emperor (1) - Murray Perahia (pno), Concertgebouw Orch/Bernard Haitink (CBS MK 42330)
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in C Op 59/3, Razumovsky (3) - New Zealand String Quartet (Atoll ACD 402)
HAMILTON: Karakia of the Stars - Horomona Horo (taonga puoro), Voices NZ/Karen Grylls (Atoll ACD 213)
HARRIS/HORO: In paradisum, from Requiem for the Fallen - Horomona Horo (taonga puoro), Richard Greager (ten), NZSQ, Voices NZ Chamber Choir/Karen Grylls (Atoll ACD 617)
STRAUSS: Wie schön ist doch die Musik, from Die Schweigsame Frau - Thomas Quasthoff (bbar), Berlin German Opera Orch/Christian Thielemann (DG 477 6159)
R JOHNSON: Have you seen but a white lily grow? - Julianne Baird (sop), Ronn McFarlane (lute) (ABC Classics 472 610)
R JOHNSON: Full fathom five - Robin Blaze (countertenor), Elizabeth Kenny (lute) (HYPERION CDA 67126)
BLISS: Things to Come - Queensland SO/Christopher Lyndon-Gee (Naxos 8.553698)
JACOB: William Byrd Suite - Eastman Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell (mercury 432 009)
HOWELLS: Elegy for viola, string quartet & string orch - Helen Callus (vla), New Zealand SO/Marc Taddei (ASV CD DCA 1181)
DYSON: In Honour of the City - London Symphony Chorus & Orch/Richard Hickox (Chandos CHAN 9531)
BRAHMS: Scherzo, from Serenade No 1 - Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra/Raffi Armenian (CBC Records SMCD5145)
Have you stood side by side with someone and sung the national anthem? It brings a sense of camaraderie, and that is at the heart of why Christine Argyle has taken the top job at the New Zealand Choral Federation.
The former RNZ Concert presenter turned manager of the New Zealand String Quartet has just taken up the new role at NZCF this week. The voice, and in particular choral singing, has a special space in her heart.
“[Choirs] are very social whatever age group they are,” she says. “I think there’s a very strong sense of camaraderie. There’s something powerful standing side by side singing – singing the national anthem – it stirs up an emotional response.”
Singing in a choir is also a “leveller” and is something everyone can participate in, regardless of age and ability. She’s had experience with a range of choirs, and once led a workplace choir in a government department involving everyone from junior advisors to senior managers. “Everyone is side by side,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what your social ranking is, you are there to do the same job.”
Argyle is also a singer and was part of the NZ Youth Choir. She’s a founding member of Voices New Zealand, founded two choirs in the capital herself, and has conducted numerous choirs.
She toured Europe in 1982 with the Youth Choir and has recently returned from a European tour with Voices New Zealand. “It was that Youth Choir experience that was life changing one for me,” she says. “Voices (NZ) tours are fantastic and enriching in so many ways but there’s a different experience being on a Youth Choir tour!”
Argyle has also had a long relationship with the Choral Federation. She’s sat on the board and is now Chief Executive. The organisation has thousands of members in 10 regions around the country. CFNZ oversees 'The Big Sing' – the premier annual choir competition for secondary schools – workshops, conferences and other big events like 'Sing Aotearoa'.
And in 2020, the Choral Federation will host the World Symposium on Choral Music, a triennial festival of choirs showcasing the best the choral world has to offer.