Melbourne Women’s Choir – Lunchtime Concert
Melbourne Women’s Choir will give the final performance of their Irish tour at DCU All Hallows Chapel on Friday 3rd October, 1:00–1:50pm. The programme includes music by Benjamin Britten, C.V. Stanford, and DCU’s own Seán Doherty.
Founded in 1993, the Choir presents an annual series of four concerts and participates in a wide range of musical events. They have sung with the Melbourne, Sydney, and Stonnington Symphony Orchestras; hosted ten national Voices of Women festivals; and, together with the Melbourne Chamber Choir, established the long-running state festival now known as Choral@Melbourne.
The Choir has recorded three CDs: Virtuoso Women (music of the Venetian orphanages), My Song in the Night (sacred and secular classics), and And the Angels Sing (featuring Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols).
Touring has taken the Choir to Europe in 2016 (Greenwich, Cambridge, Paris, Geneva, Venice) and 2019 (Vienna, Prague, Munich, Venice). At home in Australia, they have shared concerts with choirs from Wales, New Zealand, Japan, and across Australia.
The Melbourne Women’s Choir is known not only for its artistry but also for its versatility. Performances have ranged from The Classical Spectacular with the Melbourne Symphony at Rod Laver Arena, to carols in Melbourne Airport departure lounges, to TV appearances and even a “Sister Act” themed event.
Conducted by Sharon Batterham and Faye Dumont, the Choir is delighted to share music on this tour with audiences in Copenhagen, Lund, Örebro, Stockholm, Riga, and Dublin. They warmly thank you for your support and attendance.
Songs for the Journey
Wolcum Yole – Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
Magnificat – Niccola Porpora (1686–1768)
Festive Alleluia – Lyn Williams (1963–)
Bless This House – May Brahe (1884–1956)
Blessed Be the Name – David P Rossow
Shule Aroon – Irish folk arr. Ruth Elaine Schram
He is Mine – Sean Doherty (1987–)
The Blue Bird – Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)
Rain Chant – Katy Abbott (1971–)
Currawong Christmas – Wendy Morrissey (1926–2005)
A Little Duck – Paul Stanhope (1969–)
The Wild Colonials – Australian folk songs arr. E A Phillips (1947–2019)
Shalom – Dan Forrest (1978–)