Sing along with the NZSO in a family Christmas concert

28 November 2018 - NZSO media release for immediate release

Sing along with the NZSO in a special family Christmas concert in Wellington

From Hark the Herald Angels Sing to Silent Night, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will give the audience the chance to sing along at a special family Christmas concert in Wellington on 15 December.

Christmas Pops features a mix of singalong carols, and performances of favourite festive music and songs, including Do You Want to Build a Snowman? from the hit film Frozen. Tickets are only $20 an adult or $12 a child.

Presented by charismatic Australian mezzo-soprano Jacqui Dark and conducted by the acclaimed Benjamin Northey, the NZSO will perform works from renowned classical composers Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky – including a selection from his beloved The Nutcracker – alongside the much-loved songs Climb Ev’ry Mountain from The Sound of Music, We’re Walking in the Air from The Snowman and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from the MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis.

Whether it’s the Concert Suite from the animated film The Polar Express or Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas Pops will appeal to all ages who want a great night out to celebrate the festive season.

As part of a new partnership with The Wellington City Mission, City Mission volunteers will be at Christmas Pops if audience members wish to donate food or funds to the charity as part of its Christmas Star Appeal.

A City Mission Star featuring the NZSO was placed on Wellington’s waterfront at the launch of the Christmas Star Appeal in October. The City Mission’s ‘Walk of Fame’ campaign is another part of their appeal this Christmas, with their Hollywood Walk of Fame-style stars on display during December.

Wellington audiences will be familiar with Maestro Northey, who last year conducted the NZSO’s very popular Christmas family concert at Te Papa in Wellington. The Australian is the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor and Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

A guest conductor for many orchestras, including the London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Malaysian philharmonics, as well as orchestras in Australia and New Zealand, Maestro Northey has worked with Opera Australia, New Zealand Opera and the State Opera South Australia.

He has collaborated with a broad range of artists, from acclaimed violinist Karen Gomyo to popular artists, including Tim Minchin, KD Lang, Patti Austin, Barry Humphries and Tori Amos.

Jacqui Dark is in demand for opera, musical theatre, cabaret and concert performances. Her roles have included Fricka and Second Norn (Der Ring Des Nibelungen), Amneris (Aida), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Katisha (The Mikado), Dorabella (Così Fan Tutte) and the title role in Carmen.

Her performance as Mother Abbess in the Australian tour of The Sound of Music garnered great critical acclaim and last year she landed the lead role in the Australian premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s opera Prima Donna at the Adelaide Festival.

BENJAMIN NORTHEY Conductor

JACQUI DARK Mezzo-soprano and Presenter

WELLINGTON | Michael Fowler Centre| Saturday 15 December| 7.30pm

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