2006, Verdi Requiem

Chris Kopke conducts DVS, Yarra valley Singers and the Preston Symphony Orchestra in Verdi’s Requiem.

Early in the year plans were afoot for Verdi’s Requiem and the committee were very pleased when the Yarra Valley Singers agreed to join us in this venture. Then, out of the blue, we had an offer from John Dingle, the chorus master for Queensland Opera, asking if we’d like him to conduct! Ian and Graham had worked closely with him with Eastern Metropolitan Opera and he wasn’t getting any conducting opportunities in Queensland, so was happy to work with us. We were very pleased to accept and started making plans to have him take our choral festival. Unfortunately before this could happen John died well before his time. Diane and Graham attended a wake for him at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Early in June there were auditions for the solos in Verdi’s Requiem with the Preston Symphony Orchestra. There was a lot of great singing, and big-voiced Daryl Barclay was offered the tenor role while there was a runoff for the soprano before Marilla Homes was given the nod. Helen Hill, a mezzo with a big voice was offered the mezzo with Adrian Tamburini offered the bass. Unfortunately Adrian had to drop out and George Kozlowski was a worthy replacement. Tim Warren and Lucas Richter were to share the bass solos for the non-orchestral performances, and during Tim’s audition his young daughter came in and said “that’s enough of Daddy singing; let’s go home!”

Verdi’s Requiem proved to be very popular. We had over fifty in our choir, and combined with the Yarra Valley Singers. We were also joined by a number of individual choristers who loved the work. Yarra Valley came over to rehearse with us a couple of times and we did the same for them. Being very difficult music, we employed Amanda Hodder to accompany and she fitted in well.

We had Requiem performances in Mornington and Greensborough, which went well, prior to the main gig in the Preston Town Hall, where we got a standing ovation. The Yarra Valley Singers enjoyed it, but weren’t sure they could keep affording the cost of the buses, so we suggested that could come out of the profits.

These history notes have been kindly provided by our long-term artistic director and co-founder, Graham Ford. This is the last note about oratorios.

Here are the audio files from the performance at Preston, with the orchestra. They were recorded by a technician from the orchestra. The soloists are named after the item.
1 Requiem 2 Dies Irae 3 Qui sum miser 4 Rex Tremendae 5 Recordare - Marilla Homes, Helen Hill 6 Ingemisco - Daryl Barclay 7 Confutatis - Jerzy Kozlowski 8 Lacrymosa 9 Offertorio 10 Sanctus 11 Agnus Dei - Marilla, Helen 12 Lux Aeterna 13 Libera Me - Marilla Homes