Orchestra and choir

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 14

Orchestra and choir

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will give a concert in the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday, July 16 at 8 p.m. Erich Bergel. a Rumanian conductor, will guest conduct New Zealand soloists, Louise Malloy and Roger Creagh, and the Christchurch Harmonic Choir. The concert celebrates Brahms’ 150th anniversay year by featuring his choral masterpiece, “A German Requiem.” The concert opens with a popular Haydn Symphony, No. 101, often called “The Clock.” Erich Bergel has been conducting in the West since 1971 when he first appeared with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1972 he left his native Rumania and took up residence in Germany. Since then he has been building a second career conducting many of the major orchestras of the West. In 1973 he made his London debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the following year appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Hong Kong festival. In 1975 he conducted the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and appeared with other British orchestras. Also in 1975 he visited Israel for a series of concerts with the Israel Philharmonic and visited Japan to conduct the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra. He made his United States debut with the Houston Symphony and visited South America for concerts in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Erich Bergel was born

into a musical family and studied several instruments: violin, flute, piano, trumpet and organ. From 1959 until 1971 he was Chief Conductor of the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Cluj, the finest orchestra in Rumania. Before 1972 he gave concerts in the Soviet Union. Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and East Germany. At the moment he resides in Berlin where he is Professor at the Academy of Music. This will be Mr Bergel’s fourth visit to New Zealand. His first tour with the orchestra was in 1976.

Based in Auckland, Louise Malloy has sung manyopera roles including Madam Butterfly, Tosca, Mimi (“La Boheme”), Rosina (“Barber of Seville") and lead roles in the television productions of “Dr Miracle” and “Gianni Schicchi.” Her television appearances began in 1975 and she has become wellknown to New Zealanders through her own series “Louise and Friends.” She has sung with the N.Z.S.O. on many occasions and with the Schola Musica of the orchestra.

Also based in Auckland. Roger Creagh’s opera roles and stage performances include the Count in “The Marriage of Figaro,” Sharpless in “Madam Butterfly,” Alfio in “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Marcello in “La Boheme.” He has appeared with the N.Z.5.0., on numerous occasions, including proms concerts, Sibelius’ “Kullervo” and the 1982 concert version of “Peter Grimes.”