1997, Mozart's Requiem and Bach's Magnificat (with audio files)

The oratorio season began with Mozart's Requiem and Bach's Magnificat. This proved very popular with fifty singers and the Diamond Valley Singers finally tackled Latin. For the first time Ian took time from orchestral rehearsal to prepare the singers. Some found the Bach too demanding and opted to just sing the Mozart. There were five performances, the first was at Castlemaine, where Diane did some "Schoenberg" variations of the duet with David! We sang at Northcote, to a small audience (never mind, the choir said to itself - regard it as another rehearsal!). Most travelled to Shepparton, and finally to Diamond Creek. The recordings below were made at Diamond Creek where the performances were accompanied by the Eltham Community Orchestra, conducted (as were all performances) by Ian Lowe.

Auditions were held for soloists for the oratorio and thirteen soloists were chosen. Judith shared some solos with Kim Kocijan as she would be missing some performances as she was singing the role of Dame Hannah in Ruddigore with Babirra Players. There were a number of quartets and duets, so it was quite a feat to sort out the right balance. The whole experience was quite a challenge. Did we ever get the Bach completely right? However the choir loved the opportunity to learn these great works.

Audio recordings provided by Graham Ford. Soloists named after the title.

Bach Magnificat
1 Magnificat, 1a Et exsultavit - Colleen Arnott, 2 Quia respexit humilitatem - Lesley Walton, 3 Quia fecit mihi magna - Tim Warren, 4 Et misericordia - Judith O'Shea and David Cox, 5 Petit potentiam, 6 Deposuit potentes - Darren Rosenfeld, 7 Esurientes implevit bonis - Judith O'Shea, 8 Suscepit Israel - Mavis Ford, Lesley Walton, Kim Kocijan, 9 Sicut locutus est, 10 Gloria Patri

Mozart Requiem
1 Requiem, 2 Kyrie, 3 Dies Irae, 4 Tuba Mirum, 5 Rex Tremendae, 6 Recordare, 7 Confutatis, 8 Lacrimosa, 9 Domine Jesu, 10 Hostias, 11 Sanctus, 12 Benedictus, 13 Agnus Dei, 14 Lux Aeterna

In November, The Diamond Valley Eisteddfod proved to be successful for some DVS members, with Tim Warren winning the Novice Section and Raymond Khong and Diane Morgan getting places in other sections. David Cox agreed to conduct the season of Christmas Carols at the Diamond Creek carols and the Ivanhoe Boulevard. About thirty took part in this. In the middle of this there was a CD launch - Diane Morgan had produced a CD of old classics which proved very popular. At the same time rehearsals started for a new G&S musical written by Darren, with help from Norma and Michael - A Nice Dilemma. The focus was a performance for the Sorrento Yacht Club on January 17. This involved seventeen soloists, most Diamond Valley Singers regulars, and was very successful. The clever plot incorporated many G&S characters and used the original music. This was not without its own dramas, with the Princess Ida spraining her ankle at the afternoon rehearsal, being taken to hospital and returning on crutches for the performance. Later in the year, the committee spend some time considering it as a possibility for our next show, but felt it needed a rewrite. However, it also picked up a number of new singers for the Diamond Valley Singers.

These history notes have been kindly provided by our long-term artistic director and co-founder, Graham Ford.