Orchestral Oddity
a Bowie tribute
Repeat performances
A couple of Gremlins got into last week’s Guide, for which we apologise. Organist Martin Setchell’s solo concert at Manchester St’s St Mary’s Church is actually on tonight at 5.30pm. The No Orchestra? No Problem programme will feature works by Copland, Haydn, Dvorak and Villa-Lobos, all transcribed to best showcase the ‘‘orchestral colours’’ of the Rodgers Infinity Organ. For more information, see organist.co.nz. Meanwhile, Irish multi-instrumentalist and singer Aine O’Dwyer will perform at Oxford Terrace’s St Michael’s and All Angels Church this Saturday night from 7pm. Tickets are available from undertheradar.co.nz
An enchanting evening in prospect
Showbiz Christchurch will present their first traditional concert in a major theatre in 79 years at the Isaac Theatre tonight from 7.30pm. With a chorus of 120 singers, 14 soloists and a Broadway-style orchestra, An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein Classics will feature some of the best loved works from the ‘‘Golden Age’’ of musical theatre, including Some Enchanted Evening, The Sound of Music and People Will Say We’re In Love. Further performances will be held on Saturday and Sunday. For more information and bookings, visit Ticketek.
Big Bike Film Night
Showcasing a collection of short cycle-orientated movies, The Big Bike Film Night will be held at St Margaret’s College’s Charles Luney Auditorium tonight from 7.30pm. The lineup includes a stylish look at London’s bike culture, the remarkable story of an American bikeframe builder and homegrown documentary
Muscles and Dreams, which looks at the creation of New Zealand’s longest continuous single-track on the West Coast’s Old Ghost Road. For more information, see bigbikefilmnight.nz
Chamber choir in concert
Christchurch’s Knox Presbyterian Church will resound to the sounds of the American Choral tradition tonight. As part of their 12-day New Zealand concert tour, America’s Allegheny College Chamber Choir will perform at the church from 7pm.
A symphonic oddity
Jon Toogood, Julia Deans, Anna Coddington and Laughton Kora all join forces with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for a celebration of all things David Bowie on Saturday night. Scheduled for Horncastle Arena at 7.30pm, Symphonic Oddity – the Music of Bowie will see the quartet and CSO deliver their own interpretations to the greatest hits created by the man who was everything from the Starman to the Thin White Duke. Tickets from Ticketek.
Head along to The Embankment
Legendary New Zealand band Head Like A Hole will perform at Ferry Rd’s The Embankment on Saturday night as part of a 13-date national tour to mark their 25th anniversary and the re-release of their debut album 13. The tour has seen the band playing the landmark Kiwi rock album in it’s entirety across the country throughout New Zealand Music Month. For more information, phone 0800 289 849.
Musical morning
From Phantom to Les Mis is the latest Operatunity Daytime Concert to reach Christchurch. Bringing together a cast of veteran performers to deliver hits from popular musicals like Cabaret, My
Fair Lady and West Side Story, the show will be held at 11am next Tuesday at Upper Riccarton’s La Vida Centre. For more information and bookings, phone 0508 266 237, or see operatunity.co.nz
Toru on tour
Weaving together the acoustical music talents of Denny StanwayYoung, James Wilkinson, Davy Stuart and Lindsay Martin, Toru will visit the Balcairn Public Hall on Tuesday and Lyttelton’s Naval Point Yacht Club on Wednesday. Organised by Arts on Tour NZ, both performances will be held at 8pm. For more information, see aotnz.co.nz
Queen vs Cream
The audience at Horncastle Arena next Thursday night will be transformed back to the 1980s. That’s thanks to Queen: It’s a
Kinda Magic, a live performance recreating all the spectacle and grandeur of Queen’s 1986 World Tour. The live show features Freddie Mercury impersonator Giles Taylor, who was trained by Mercury’s friend, personal assistant and biographer Peter Freestone.
Meanwhile, over at the Isaac Theatre Royal on the same evening, the bloodlines of 1960s supergroup Cream will pay tribute to those who came before them in The Music of Cream – 50th Anniversary Tour. Book for both events at Ticketek.