Grand Aria 

  St James Church, Woburn Rd.  Saturday 3pm 7 August 2021.

  Conductor: Mark Carter    Soloist: Lila (LJ) Crichton


bumble bee on red flowers

 
This concert was held on a Saturday afternoon with a hint of spring to come.

These flowers were part of a planting between the Church and the library. The weather was nice enough to have a quick wander before the concert. 

Fully furry bumble bees are around before spring is fully launched.

And so, to the music...

The concert opened with Mozart's Overture to the Magic Flute
and then we welcomed our soloist LJ Crichton
firstly with the aria, "The Bird Catcher's Song" (Mozart)
and then "Quanto e bella" (Donizetti).

This was the pattern for this concert with arias followed by orchestral pieces.

The orchestra playing the Overture to The Magic Flute

 orchestra

LJ one





First aria : The Birdcatchers song"
NZ-born Samoan tenor Lila Junior (LJ)Crichton, who is currently studying Classical Performance (voice) at the NZ School of Music, was the soloist for this concert.  This aria was the first of many which delighted the audience.


Verdi's "Grand March" from Aida featured dramatic brass

 strings and woodwind



LJ introducing his songs

 LJ intro


 The audience enjoyed a feast of songs from LJ including "La Donna e mobile" and "O Sole Mio"
lJ two lJ one
 

Here is a view across the cello section.  LJ and cellos


Between LJ's arias, the orchestra played the stirring Finale from Gounod's Faust Ballet music
and the lovely Carmen Suite. 

Below, LJ receives extended applause from the audience and orchestra before performing, as
an encore, the heartfelt "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot. A fitting finale to a lovely concert.

LJ end

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