EVENT: 55th Australian Intervarsity Choral Festival

200 singers head to Perth for unique choral music festival

PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. In conjunction with the Perth International Arts Festival 2004, the 55th Australian Intervarsity Choral Festival will be held in Perth from February 6 – 22, culminating in two exciting performances.

“This is the first time that the Australian Intervarsity Choral Festival has been included in the Perth International Arts Festival programme,“ said Joel Mendelson, Convenor of the 55th Australian Intervarsity Choral Festival.

“We’re delighted to be able to present two fantastic concerts, working with Midland Brick Brass and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. The AICSA festival presents a rare opportunity for Perth to experience a large, young and enthusiastic choir passionately performing choral music.”

Each year members of university choirs from all over Australia, ex-members and other interested people, congregate for a two week Choral Festival in an Australian capital city. The host city each year changes between Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra and Perth. The last time the festival was held in Perth was 1997.

“The first concert, O Fortuna!, at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on February 14, is a journey through some of history’s most loved and famous choral music,” said Joel. “Combining our voices with the Midland Brick Brass, and conducted by choral specialist Andrew Wailes, we will perform pieces such as O Fortuna" from Orff's famous Carmina Burana, Verdi's "Anvil Chorus" from "La Traviata", Handel's "Zadok the Priest"...and much more!”

Melbourne conductor Graham Abbott, will be conducting the second concert at the Perth Concert Hall on February 21. The highlight of the Perth International Arts Festival, the concert features Antonín Dvorák's Stabat Mater (Opus 58) with the world famous Prague Chamber Orchestra, soloists soprano Lisa Harper-Brown, mezzo-soprano Fiona Campbell, tenor Aldo di Toro and Netherlands Opera bass Harry Peeters.

For further information and bookings:

O Fortuna! http://www.perthfestival.com.au/Festival/index.cfm/fuseaction/events.detail/pkEvent/101704/

Stabat Mater – Opus 58

http://www.perthfestival.com.au/Festival/index.cfm/fuseaction/events.detail/pkEvent/101456/