Penrith Symphony Orchestra And Opera Australia Bring Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ To The Joan

The Penrith Symphony Orchestra is joined by four soloists from Opera Australia and a chorus of more than a hundred voices to perform Giuseppe Verdi’s magnificent Requiem. This masterpiece will be heard live for the first time in Penrith, under the baton of the orchestra’s artistic director Paul Terracini.

Soprano Annabelle Chaffey, mezzo-soprano Anna Yun, tenor Jin Tea Kim and bass Adrian Tamburini will sing with an expanded chorus, directed by Lucy McAlary. The chorus includes includes the Sydney Chamber Choir along with three local choirs – the Penrith City Choir, Academy Singers and Warrimoo Chorale.

The Sydney Chamber Choir’s own concert at ‘The Joan’ earlier this year with its music director Richard Gill attracted a packed house. The choir is one of Australia’s leading choirs and an international prize-winning ensemble. Verdi’s setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead is like no other. In music ranging from sacred devotion to operatic high drama, it lays bare the gamut of human emotions. “As an opera singer, there are a number of concert works that I hope to perform and Verdi’s Requiem would have to be at the top of the list,” Adrian Tamburini said. “Written by one of the greatest operatic composers of all time, the Requiem is a liturgical piece set to truly dramatic music. Like all his operas, Verdi has infused passion, pathos, sensuality and hope into this Requiem. I dare anyone not to be moved by the music of this masterwork.”

Adrian Tamburini has recently performed principal roles in Opera Australia productions of Bizet’s “Carmen”, Puccini’s “La Bohème” and Prokofiev’s “The Love for Three Oranges”.  Annabelle Chaffey, a full-time member of the OA chorus, has sung principal roles with the company and with the state opera companies. She is a seasoned soloist on the concert platform in major works including Beethoven’s ninth symphony. Russian-born mezzo Anna Yun recently appeared in “The Magic Flute” with OA.  Later this year both she and Tamburini will appear in “Sydney Opera House: The Opera” (also known as “The Eighth Wonder”). Jin Tea Kim recently played the Prince of Persia in Puccini’s “Turandot” (Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2016).

Tickets: $28 to $57.

Bookings: the box office at the Joan, phone 02 4723 7600 or online at www.thejoan.com.au.