Background

Formed in 2003, the Handel Consort & Quire (directed by Robert Howell) is an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists committed to performing Handel's lesser-known and less-performed works to the highest musical standard with attention to stylistic detail.

To date the Handel Consort & Quire have presented Alceste, Alexander's Feast, Laudate Pueri Dominum, Nisi Dominus, Saeviat Tellus Inter Rigores, Zadok the Priest, My Heart is Inditing, Joshua, Semele, and several house concerts of Handel solo cantatas and arias at the sumptuous Rannoch, home of the James Wallace Arts Trust replete with wine and canapes.

        "Handel is the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head, and kneel down at his tomb!"                                     

                  Ludwig van Beethoven 1823

Reviews

"Proportions for Saturday night's performance were perfect, with 17 instrumentalists and a choir of 16 heard to their best in the clear acoustics of the Pitt Street Methodist Church. The recurring flourishes of trumpets and timpani were bracingly rugged and, once one's ear was attuned to the slight edge between the two violinists, even this took on a certain charm. Wesseling, with beautifully tailored lines, made the most of her many glorious arias, including the charming: "Hark, hark! Tis the Linnet." Finally, how good it was to have a tenor with the musicality and fine vocal equipment of Iain Tetley. His forthright Joshua managed thrilling top notes that could have brought down the walls of Jericho without any assistance from trumpets and drums."

                                                                William Dart, NZ Herald Thurs 18th Oct 2007

To read the entire review please click here http://203.99.65.121/topic/story.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=10470496

"I've been listening to a Cd of Handel's Alexander's Feast in a live recording they made last year which is lively and stylish with the clarity one gets from a small, well trained choir and professional orchestra. This recording makes me want to hear these people in the flesh and there'll be the chance to do that when they perform Joshua later this month."

                                                                   Rod Biss, Listener Oct 13-19 2007

To read the entire article please click here http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3518/artsbooks/9787/hot_to_handel.html;jsessionid=EB1CFDD37C588A33A51839E0297E59DB

Comments from the audience

Congratulations to you and all who were involved in the production of Semele.  It was an outstanding performance. The soloists were magnificent!!!!!!  Of course the chorus and orchestra provided an equally outstanding support. How good can these talented soloists get!!!!
I especially enjoyed the two sopranos and Beverley Hicks never fails to deliver exquisitely clear diction and sincerity of expression.  Bravo!
Again, congratulations and well done!!!! 
 
 
Congratulations to you and all those involved in the production of
Semele last night. All members of our 7-strong party enjoyed it
thoroughly. Gorgeous music, wonderful performance, great acoustic.
Thanks again, and best wishes for this afternoon's/this evening's
repeat.

Another glittering triumph last night!! You people are going from strength to strength. Wonderful soloists and musicians. Great having Peter Watts.  I thought the Quire excelled themselves. Loved the thunder too.  Thanks for a wonderful evening - we really enjoyed it.  Terry was thrilled to win the Joshua CD also.  Loved the merchandise.  All the very best

A great achievement I thought, wonderful singing from Jayne Tankersley, Beverley Hicks and Edward Scorgie

To Robert Howell and the team,  Thankyou for a stunning performance of Semele.  We were truly 'blown away' by the consistency of the performance and the tightness of the production.  Count us in for all future productions!  We applaud the focus you have on the works of Handel.

I loved Joshua!! Great consort, beautiful work by soloists, wasn't the chemistry between David and Lisette great?? And Iain is just so lovely to listen to. 
Congratulations to all,

Brian and I were blown away by Alexander' Feast. Congratulations on your wonderful performance. We thoroughly enjoyed it. What a great venue for showing what can be done with voices. We thought all the soloists were superb, the orchestra and chorus beautifully balanced and the whole presentation uplifting. This outing was my birthday treat and what a treat it was. We hope the Handel Consort and Quire does another oratorio sometime soon. 

I'd just like to add my congratulations to this message from two of our friends who attended the concert last night. It really was a wonderful performance, and this was echoed by everyone I spoke to afterwards. Well done! 

Great show last night, most enjoyable and I admire your vision and energy. Opened my eyes to Handel with much greater variety, harmony and moods than I had appreciated. 

The concert was fabulous! Marvellous soloists and wonderful rich tone from the choir. Congratulations on bringing off yet another excellent performance.

Yes, I was there and it was brilliant! Congratulations on a very successful performance!

I wanted to congratulate you on your vision and dedication that you have clearly put into staging the New Zealand premiere of Alexander's Feast. Tonight's concert was a great success, and your organisation of the whole event clearly got everything together with everyone confident, relaxed and enjoying themselves to perform this work. Well done! The audience was buzzing at the interval, and then even more so at the end.

Concerts 2008

Wine & Chamber music evening at Rannoch

Sunday 31 August  7.30pm

'Rannoch' home of the James Wallace Arts Trust

77 Almorah Rd, Epsom
Tickets $45 Adult or $40 for groups of 6 or more

ENTRY BY PRE-PAID TICKET ONLY - NO DOOR SALES - Limited ticket sales

What could be a nicer way to spend an evening than listening to live chamber music consisting of singers accompanied by a string quartet and harpsichord in the sumptuous surroundings of the amazing home of James Wallace, which houses some of his incredible collection of artworks. Paintings, sculptures and other artforms fill the four-level arts and crafts style house. Wine and canapes are included in the ticket price and after the concert you are welcome to wander through James' house and discover the delights of 'Rannoch'.

Musical programme will consist of Handel Cantatas and arias soon to be announced.

Soloists       Hannah Kim - Soprano

                    Richard Phillips - Tenor

                    Robert Howell - Countertenor

Bookings -  send cheque to Handel Consort & Quire, 8 Parramatta Place, Howick.

Include your name, email, telephone and postal address for reply.

NB - ENTRY BY PRE-PAID TICKETS ONLY - NO DOOR SALES

Athalia

Saturday 4 October  7.30pm

Sunday 5 October  5pm

Pitt St Methodist Church

Tickets $35 Adult, $30 Seniors, $10 Students with ID

Athalia (Ath-uh-li-ar) is one of Handel's shortest oratorios at just over 2 hours long, but it certainly packs a punch! With a wicked queen (daughter of Jezebel no less!) who orders little children to be killed, stunningly powerful 8-part choruses which will literally blow your socks off, contrasted with some deliciously soothing and lilting arias, some great blustery bass airs, and one of Handels most richly and varied orchestrations of all his works including recorders, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, 4 violin parts as well as the usual strings and oboes, this will be one work you will not want to miss!

Athalia - Gina Sanders

Bookings -  send cheque to Handel Consort & Quire, 8 Parramatta Place, Howick.

Include your name, email, telephone and postal address for reply.

Door Sales available but booking is recommended for the best seats.

Hire the Quire

Are you planning a special event such as a wedding or other function?  What better way to create an impact than to have the Handel Quire to sing at your event? We don't just sing Handel! You could also include a string or larger instrumental ensemble for a real touch of class! 

If you would like to discuss possibilities please contact Director Robert Howell on 535-5493 preferably at least a month in advance. 

Recordings

Alexander's Feast

If you would like to hear the company in action we have a 2CD set of Alexander's Feast available for purchase. This concert recorded live in September 2006 is a gem of a work. A setting of Dryden's Ode to St Cecelia. It is full of delightful choruses and airs and even contains a beautiful harp concerto played by Rebecca Harris and a majestic organ concerto played by Indra Hughes on Musica Sacra's newly acquired Donald Barriball Memorial Chamber Organ. Soloists Na Young Kim, Iain Tetley and Edward Scorgie.

Simply post a cheque for $45 (incl P & P) to Handel Consort & Quire, 8 Parramatta Place, Howick with your details and your CD will be posted to the address you provide.

Joshua

Now available.

This stunning oratorio was performed to critical acclaim in October 2007 and the live recording is now available. Gentle, lilting airs contrast with rousing military choruses, replete with drums, natural trumpets (3), horns, oboes, bassoon, strings and choir. One of Handel's finest oratorios. Contains what is said to be one of the greatest 'thunder choruses' in all of the baroque!  Haydn said of this chorus, upon hearing it at a performance in 1791 in Westminster Abbey "He had long been acquainted with the music, but never knew half its powers before he heard it, and he was perfectly certain that only one inspired Author did, or ever would pen so sublime a composition".  3CD set. Soloists Lisette Wesseling, Stephen Diaz, Iain Tetley and Ian Campbell. Read the review by William Dart above of the live concert.

Sponsorship

For any organisation to survive, let alone flourish, requires significant finance. Working with professional singers, instrumentalists and soloists necessitates professional fees, not to mention all the other costs of advertising, music hire, venue hire, rehearsal accompanists etc. Although we have been successful with funding grants in the past, these often fall well short of the sort of funding we require and are by no means a certainty. If you would be interested in supporting us, please contact us by the below means to discuss possibilities! If you enjoy these concerts please consider making even a small donation. We need your support to continue presenting high-quality concerts!

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like to comment or make contact with us, please email us at handelconsortandquire@hotmail.com.

     One morning, after I had been singing with him (Gluck), he said, 'Follow me upstaires, Sir, and I will introduce you to one whom all my life I have made my study and endeavoured to imitate.'  I followed him into his bedroom, and opposite to the head of the bed saw a full-length picture of Handel in a rich frame. 'There, Sir,' said he, 'is the portrait of the inspired master of our art. When I open my eyes in the morning I look upon him with reverential awe and acknowledge him as such, and the highest praise is due to your country for having distinguished and cherished his gigantic genius.'

            Michael Kelly 1826

61 Pitt St

(Opposite Pitt St Church)

www.oscarflowermerchant.co.nz

Open Mon - Fri  9am - 6pm

We are very grateful to our sponsors who kindly provide wonderful blooms for our soloists.  Please support them