Colours of Futuna Summer Concert Series 2023
Sunday afternoons at 2pm, from 2 April – 28 May, 2023
A series of concerts of exceptional musicians from Wellington has been assembled for the 2023 Colours of Futuna concert series. Located in Karori, the chapel will host a series of eight concerts each Sunday at 2pm from 2 April. A wide variety of music genres will be on display with local performers. Book here!
The chapel lends special acoustic qualities to music performance for musicians from Wellington. Concert series artistic director Simon McLellan describes the event as “a colourful display of musical curiosity and intrigue”. For the 2023 concert series, McLellan has gathered a superb line-up of performers from throughout the Wellington region to reflect and reverberate against the cool stones and colourful windows of Futuna. They include choirs, chamber ensembles, solo singers, and instrumentalists.
One of the most intriguing performance will be from Klezmer Rebs. Formed in 2002, the Klezmer Rebs pump out lively, ‘tuchas-shaking’ klezmer music with Eastern European Jewish-Yiddish roots, as well as Argentine Yiddish tangos, 1940s swing plus quirky originals. Dance, cry and interact with story songs and wedding dances from the old country. Klezmer music is the folk music of Jewish people from Eastern and Central Europe and is currently enjoying a worldwide rebirth of interest and popularity.
The series opens on 2 April in a retrospective concert for composers who have a connection with Lilburn Residence Trust. Friends of Futuna Trust Chair, Nick Bevin, said he hoped the concert series would attract new visitors to Futuna. “Futuna is an architectural gem that many Wellingtonians have not visited. We hope people will see this series of concerts as a chance to enjoy great music as well as great architecture,” he said.
Other concerts will feature the popular Orion Quartet, a classical period string quartet. Christine Wang will also appear in two groups for the first time at Futuna Chapel.
We welcome back Michelle Velvin in a concert for harp and Dulcis Tibia, a collection of baroque record instruments. WOSOSI, a wonderful community choir, will also present a wide range of music for unaccompanied choir.
Programme (all concerts start at 2pm)
| 2 April 2023 | The Lilburn Residence Trust: A Retrospective Concert |
| 9 April 2023 | Easter – no performance |
| 16 April 2023 | Yuka and Christine: eclectic classical works for violin duo |
| 23 April 2023 | Wososi: unaccompanied voice choir |
| 30 April 2023 | Klezmer Rebs |
| 7 May 2023 | Orion Quartet: classical period string quartet |
| 14 May 2023 | Dulcis Tibia recorder quartet |
| 21 May 2023 | Michelle Velvin: solo harp |
| 28 May 2023 | Mostly Baroque: music for flute, violin and double bass |
Ticket prices are $10 for each concert. BOOK HERE! Door sales should also be available, unless sold out.
This concert series is supported by the Wellington City Council through the Arts and Culture Grants programme.
For further information please contact: Simon McLellan, artistic director, 0274 408 936