Christchurch kapa haka Te Ahikaaroa Photo: Supplied
The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s concert this Saturday is particularly special, with not one but two premieres.
It’s the New Zealand premiere of Compassion, a song cycle for voice and orchestra created by Australian composer Nigel Westlake and singer-songwriter Lior Attar– and Lior will be performing in this concert.
Compassion draws from the rich worlds of Islam and Judaism to present a collection of profound and poetic messages surrounding the idea of compassion between human beings.
The concert opens with the world premiere of He Ngākau Aroha, a commission from the CSO by Christchurch composers Pieta Hextall, Savanah Tukariri and Kerepeti Paraone. The title roughly translates as 'gratitude for the land and for each other': the work incorporates traditional waiata with orchestral music and talks about compassion for people and the environment. It brings together orchestra, including taonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments) with kapa haka dancers and singers.
Nick Tipping spoke with Pieta Hextall and Kerepeti Paraone about taking on such a big challenge.
