Australian Chamber Choir brings choral masterworks to the Basilica

AN acclaimed vocal ensemble known for its flawless intonation, stunning dynamic range and superb uniformity is headed to Geelong this weekend.

The Australian Chamber Choir will present Renaissance Requiem today (Sunday, August 10) at the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, offering local audiences the chance to experience the choir’s signature sound in one of the region’s most majestic venues.

The concert will interweave Renaissance masterpieces by William Byrd, Heinrich Schütz, Orlando Gibbons and others with the world premiere of Missa pro Defunctis 2024, a newly commissioned work by Gordon Kerry, one of Australia’s most frequently commissioned composers.

“I wanted to compose something in line – in terms of mood and scale – with the Renaissance music in which the Australian Chamber Choir excels,” Kerry said of his composition.

“The entire performance, including the Introit of Victoria’s Missa pro Defunctis, the movement of my requiem and the other interleaved Renaissance works, tells a story of how we deal with loss and sadness.”

Missa pro Defunctis 2024 is the third of Kerry’s works to be performed by the Australian Chamber Choir in recent years and, well-versed with the repertoire, he played a role in selecting the complementing Renaissance works that fill the program.

Music at the Basilica’s artistic director Frank De Rosso said the performance offered Geelong audiences the opportunity to see one of Australia’s best choirs in concert.

“The acoustics at the Basilica will add an extra dimension to the music that will be performed,” he said.

“We hope you will join us for this very special concert.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, head to auschoir.org/buy-tickets