Big sound coming to Saint Pauls

ONE of Vivaldi’s most popular and most performed pieces is being brought to Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, as the Bendigo Chorale partners with Glen Eira City Choir.

Chorale representative Brendan Grinter said the two choirs will join forces to perform Gloria in D major this Saturday.

Mr Grinter said both groups are led by the same musical director and composer, Elena Varshavskaya, who has been with Bendigo Chorale for about 11 years and Glen Eira City Choir for just over two.

“It was suggested by Glen Eira, they’ve lost a lot of members over COVID and they wanted to do this work and they needed a few more singers,” Grinter said.

“I’ve always wanted to work with other groups, it’s just about joining forces and resources. It’s not always easy working with another committee and management, but it helps having the same conductor because at least that’s in common.”

The choirs performed the concert in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton two weeks ago, and Grinter said it sounded fantastic.

“It’s a bigger sound than what we’re used to because we’ve got about 25 to 30 members,” he said.

“When you double that you get a bigger sound. Often we just do smaller works, smaller pieces, so it’s good to do a big classical work. It’s a nice change.”

Grinter said it’s exciting to be accompanied by Melbourne organist Hugh Fullarton, as the group usually sings with just a piano.

“It’s nice to have the organ, it’s a different sound,” he said.

“It’s very exciting music, it’s very dramatic and uplifting. It’s got beautiful solo work in it but a lot for the choir to do as well.”

Tickets to the concert are $25 for adults, $15 for students and children under 12 are free. For tickets head to bit.ly/3tADHpd.