Come and join the fine old tradition and celebrations with the MCSO at one of the three concerts in Manukau, at the Papatoetoe Town Hall on Saturday 11 September and All Saints Church, Howick on Sunday 12 September.

Conductor - Peter Watts
Tuba Soloist - Adrian Raven (right)Come and join the fine old tradition and celebrations with the MCSO at one of the three concerts in Manukau, at the Papatoetoe Town Hall on Saturday 11 September and All Saints Church, Howick on Sunday 12 September.

Conductor - Peter Watts
Tuba Soloist - Adrian Raven (right)The concept of Proms concerts reaches back 110 years to London when the first concerts were held. The impresario, Sir Robert Newman's, aim was to reach the widest possible audience by offering popular programmes, performed to the highest standards, in an informal setting. Now known as the BBC Proms Festival the tradition continues today. One of the world's greatest festivals, the season reaches its climax in early September with 'The Last Night of the Proms'. Inspired by the grand finale of the British Proms season, The Manukau Proms festivities will give local "promenaders" a chance to experience the party-like atmosphere at a live Proms concert.

The Manukau Proms programme is a sampling of great classical music including Coates 'Knightsbridge' March and Wagner's Bridal Chorus. The ultra-British programme's traditional favourites include Parry's Jerusalem and Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs, (Rule Britannia). The concerts grand finale is of course, Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance' March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory).

Adrian Raven will perform 20th Century British composer Edward Gregson's Tuba Concerto, in tune with the British theme. In keeping with the MCSO's reputation for innovative programming the performance marks the New Zealand premier of the work and presents a unique opportunity to hear a tuba concerto. The concerto is a short, lively, 3-movement work which displays the humour and virtuosity that such a large brass bass-sounding instrument can provide. Short snappy themes - both rhythmical and lyrical - contrast with broad sweeping melodies. The soloist Adrian, a native of England has performed at many of Britain's famous concert halls with some of the legends of England's brass band folklore.

In keeping with the British theme the MCSO is under the baton of on of the orchestra's favourite conductors Peter Watts, who is now based locally but originally from Britain too. Peter is one of New Zealand's leading conductors and is well known to audiences for both his conducting of orchestral and choral music.

The Manukau Proms concert has been programmed as a result of the many requests the MCSO receives, from their audience, to hold a Proms concert. . Reaching the widest possible audience is one of the aims of the MCSO for these concerts. In the past the Proms have proved so popular that the MCSO will repeat the Sunday concert, making a total of three concerts Owing to the past popularity of the concert pre-purchasing tickets is advised.

The programme and concert times:

7.30pm - Papatoetoe Town Hall Saturday 11 September
2.00pm - All Saints Church Howick Sunday 12 September
and again at
4.00pm - All Saints Church Howick Sunday 12 September
Coates 'Knightsbridge March'

Edward Gregson Tuba Concerto

Wagner Bridal Chorus (from 'Lohengrin')
Henry Wood Fantasia on British Sea Songs (Rule Britannia)
Parry Jerusalem
Elgar 'Pomp & Circumstance' March No 1. (Land of Hope and Glory)

Ticket prices:
Adults $20, Seniors Citizens $15, Students (with ID) $10, Children (under 13) $5

Tickets are on sale now at
Papatoetoe Stationers, Papatoetoe Paper Power,
Cnr Great South & Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe during business hours.
Or
The Howick School of Music, Howick Intermediate School, Botany Road, Howick, between 9am and 12 noon on Saturdays & Tuesdays 3pm to 7pm ONLY.

Door sales
From 7.00pm - Papatoetoe Town Hall, St George St.
Papatoetoe, on Saturday 11 September

From 1.30pm & 3.30pm - All Saints Church, Selwyn Rd. Howick, on Sunday 12 September

Enquiries phone: 5343587 or 4461097 or 2677753For more information please contact

Jeanine Gribbin
MCSO
Phone 09 2677753
021 1482515
jgribbin@slingshot.co.nz