Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Review: Sumptuous acoustics complement soaring voices at NZ Opera School service at Whanganui Collegiate Chapel

By Lin Ferguson
Whanganui Chronicle·
16 Jan, 2023 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The NZ Opera School held its In Praise of Music service at the Whanganui Collegiate School Chapel. Photo / Supplied

The NZ Opera School held its In Praise of Music service at the Whanganui Collegiate School Chapel. Photo / Supplied

In Praise of Music

The New Zealand Opera School

Whanganui Collegiate School Chapel

Sunday, January 15, 11.30am

Review by Lin Ferguson

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When it comes to great oratorio, one of the greatest choral works is GF Handel’s sublime Solomon.

In the Collegiate Chapel on Sunday morning the congregation was treated to a soaring section of this work.

Thank you opera students, conductor Michael Vinten, organist Francis Cowan, harpsichordist David Kelly, Dr Luca Mangi playing flute and Annie Hunt playing cello.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Once again, with the sumptuous acoustics of the chapel, we were indeed a most fortunate gathering.

Soloists included Sarah Hubbard singing Queen of Sheba in a beautiful bell-like soprano, alto Cecilia Zhang a stunning Solomon with a rich‚ warm voice. As Woman 1 and Woman 2 were soprano Katherine Winitana, whose spectacular voice floated to the rafters, and Maeve Herd, whose voice melded to the music with ease and a rich tone.

For the first time, we were treated at last to the fine sound of a harpsichord bought for the Opera School by founder and chairman Donald Trott.

The journey to having this wonderful old instrument in Whanganui has taken three years. Thank you Donald, what a splendid asset.

And to have the full power of all the students singing from the choir stalls ensured we were in a listening heaven.

What a lift it was to hear this congregation sing the wonderful old hymn Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah in a hearty vein with full volume and expression, especially with the years marching on for many of us.

Sun streamed through the glorious stained windows behind the altar which was very beautiful, together with the lit candles casting a soft light.

This beautiful service closed with the National Anthem in te reo and English which was uplifting and resonated throughout the beautiful old chapel.

The congregation burst into applause after a final solo by virtuoso organist Francis Cowan. It really was a spectacularly played piece and a marvellous ending to this service.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

11 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

11 Jul 06:00 PM

Former members are 'more than welcome' to return, RSA Welfare Trust president says.

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP