Recent Reviews and Quotes

Bay of Plenty Times, Jeremy Whimster, October 2009:

"Tauranga was treated to a gourmet of choral music in Baycourt last
evening as part of the 2009 Tauranga Arts Festival.

Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, under the direction of Dr Karen
Grylls, presented repertoire by Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten in
the first half. Purcell’s Music for a While, a choral improvisation,
was a most effective introduction with choir members placed throughout
the auditorium, providing surround sound.

I was glad, with its vital contrapuntal section, indicated the quality
of choral singing that was in store.  Blend, tone, dynamics, clarity
of diction, it was all there, immersing the audience in a sea of vocal
excellence.

Britten’s Hymn to the Virgin, with an antiphonal quartet placed near
the rear of the auditorium, was sheer bliss.

New Zealand composer Anthony Ritchie’s arrangement of Purcell’s Olinda
with its tasteful harmonies led on to Britten’s Five Flower Songs.
These encompass a wide range of vocal colour and dynamic, a tribute to
Dr Grylls’ choral direction and interpretation.

Opus Orchestra joined the choir to present Faure’s Requiem under the
direction of Dr Peter Walls.  This orchestral arrangement by John
Rutter, adhered to Faure’s original instrumentation by not using
violins apart from the occasional solo.  The performance was
exquisite.  The exhilarating Hosanna in Sanctus, Pepe Becker’s
performance of Pie Jesu, the magical horns in Agnus Dei, the fiery
Dies Irae in Libera Me and the tranquillity of In Paradisum were
capped off when the audience held their applause for a few seconds of
silence at the end.

Congratulations to all involved for a world-class performance."