Sea features in local choir’s concert

Voix de femmes – a local choir for women who love to sing French and New Zealand works – is performing its second concert this year at St Teresa’s Church, Karori, on 20 August.

The concert is based on La mer (the sea).

The programme explores the depths of this watery expanse from a Mass for the Fishermen to the seductive calls of the Sirens, to the lullaby of a mother to her seal pup, to the shanties of the fishermen.

No programme about La mer would be complete without the much-loved song of this name sung unforgettably by Charles Trenet and more recently Robbie Williams. Interspersed with the songs will be the much-appreciated and trade-mark inclusion of French poetry.

The concert will feature guest soloist Barbara Graham.

As a soprano with the RNZAF Band, Barbara has performed in France and Belgium several times for the 1914-1918 World War I commemorations.

She is also the first person in New Zealand since the 1950sto sing “God save the King” on the steps of Parliament.

A former Emerging Artist and Resident Artist with New Zealand Opera, and winner of the 2013 Alliance Française Song Competition in Wellington, Barbara has worked extensively in concert, opera and musical theatre throughout New Zealand and internationally.

She holds a BMus in Vocal Performance from VUW, subsequently studying at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, during which time she won several competitions and prizes. She performs regularly as part of the NZO

Voix de femmes’ guest soloist Barbara Graham. Photo: Supplied.

Chorus, and is a sought-after soloist, with past roles including Peep Bo in NZO’s The Mikado, Christine in Amici Productions’ Phantom of the Opera, Rosa Bud in Circa Theatre’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Sophie in Days Bay Opera’s Der Rosenkavalier.

Barbara is a member of the close-harmony quartet The Sirens, and performs regularly with baroque group The Queen’s Closet. Tickets to the concert are $20 and are available from choir members or by telephoning Kerry on 021 537 881. There will also be door sales.

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Johnsonville Mall

I was surprised to read in the latest Herald a proposed upgrade is imminent for the Johnsonville Mall.

The local MP has got on the band wagon also just months out from an election.

He says he has been chasing the owners Stride Properties for six years. That will be three times, ie two elections.

I would suggest that rather than keep