SUMS present Vivaldi and Mozart with stellar soloists

The Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS), has garnered the talents of major soloists from the Melbourne Opera Company for their upcoming concert in September.

Soprano Joanna Cole and mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell will join the SUMS choir and full string orchestra conducted by Tim Chung to perform classics by Mozart and Vivaldi. The two soloists have built their careers in Melbourne and are not often heard in Sydney. Richard Butler is the tenor soloist and Daniel Nicholson, the bass soloist. Established in 1878, the choir is one of Sydney’s oldest choral ensembles.

Vivaldi’s Gloria RV 589, the composer’s magnum opus and celebrated Baroque masterpiece opens the programme. The famous duet for soprano and mezzo-soprano, Laudamus te from the Gloria will be a keenly anticipated showcase for the soloists. Following Vivaldi’s Gloria are three works by Mozart, Laudate Dominum, Missa Brevis in B flat K. 275 and Ave Verum Corpus. These beautiful liturgical works present a mosaic of sounds and styles representing the pinnacle of music from the classical era.

Adept in opera and concert works Joanna Cole’s roles for Opera Australia include Violetta in La Traviata, Countess in Marriage of Figaro, Gilda in Rigoletto, Lucia in Lucia Di Lammermoor, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Leila in Pearl Fishers and Micaela in Carmen. In Australian concert halls she has performed as soloist with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir andthe state symphony orchestras around in the nation, in works which include Mahler’s Symphony No 8, Faure’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, Tchaikovsky’s The Bells, Mozart’s Requiem and Exultate Jubilate , Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, Villa Lobos’ Bachiana Brasileiras No.5, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Brahms’ Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. 

ARIA Award winner Sally-Anne Russell maintains a high profile in opera, in the concert hall and on disc. Her opera appearances around the nation include the roles of Angelina in La Cenerentola, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dorabella in Così fan Tutte, Bradamante in Alcina,Sesto in Guilio Cesare, Mallika in Lakmé, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. In concert she has appeared as soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in Bernstein’s Mass and in the sacred works of JS Bach and Handel. Sally-Anne Russell has a substantial discography which includes solo and collaborative recordings.

A choral scholar with Stephen Cleobury at King’s College Cambridge and then a tenor lay clerk at Westminster Abbey, Richard Butler has performed with the Gabrieli Consort, the English Baroque Choir and the English Consort. Since arriving in Sydney he has sung as tenor lay clerk at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney and as soloist with the Choir of St James’ King Street, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and with Pinchgut Opera.

Tickets: $25 for access members/ $30 for concessions/ $35 for adults. You will also be able to purchase 8 Access tickets at the discounted price of $120.

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Tickets will also be available at the door.