ASB Classical Sparks

ASB Classical Sparks 2011

Sunday 5 February 2012
6.45pm - 10.30pm
North Hagley Park
(Rain date Monday 6 February)

The ASB Classical Sparks concert features classical music, popular tunes and stunning fireworks.

If you liked the music at ASB Classical Sparks, search our BiblioCommons catalogue or music resources in the Source to listen to your favourite pieces.

2012

First half

Ruslan and Ludmilla overture Glinka: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves Verdi: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and City Choir
Ave Maria Bach Gounod: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Rachel Doig
Symphony no. 40 1st movement Mozart: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
The Swan from the Carnival of Animals Saint Saens: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and dancers
Broken Vow Anna Hawkins: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Anna Hawkins
Bugler’s Holiday Leroy Anderson: Performed by the Woolston Brass Band
Air on a G String Bach: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra/ Woolston Brass Band / Sarah Hickman
Toreador Aria from Carmen Bizet: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Jud Arthur
The Willow Tree: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Fiona Pears
Sabre Dance Khachaturian: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Fiona Pears

Second half

Also Sprach Zarathustra Strauss: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Hallelujah Chorus Handel: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Christchurch City Choir
Che Gelida Manina from La Boheme Puccini: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Virgilio Marino
Intermezzo from Caviliera Rusticana Mascagni: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Duet from Pearl Fishers Bizet: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Virgilio Marino and Jud Arthur
Cavatina Theme from Deer Hunter Stanley Myers: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Graeme Wardrop
Hungarian Dance no. 5 Brahms: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and dancers
Danny Boy Weatherly/Young: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Anna Hawkins
Clair De Lune Debussy: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Russian sailors dance Gliere: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and dancers
Ave Verum Corpus Mozart: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Christchurch City Choir
Ride of the Valkyries Wagner/Young: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Woolston Brass Band

Previous concerts

2011

First half

Te Ahikaaraoa Kapa Haka
Ride Of The Valkyries Wagner: Performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Here’s to the heroes: Performed by DF12 with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Army Band
Nessun Dorma Puccini: Performed by DF12 with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5: Performed by Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
World in Union: Performed by Rachel Doig, Mark Hadlow, Christchurch City Choir with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Waltz of the flowers Tchaikovsky: Performed by Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with ballroom dancers
Lacrimosa: Performed by Christchurch City Choir with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Final Countdown: Performed by DF12, Christchurch City Choir, Rachel Doig, New Zealand Army Band with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

Second half

Boogie Woogie: Chant et Danse with New Zealand Army Band
I got rhythm Gershwin: Chant et Danse with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
There is nothing like a dame Rodgers and Hammerstein: Chant et Danse with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Sing sing sing: Chant et Danse with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
In the Mood Glenn Miller: Chant et Danse with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Army Band
Candyman: Chant et Danse with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Carmen suite Bizet: Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with ballroom couples
Bohemian Rhapsody (with fireworks): Matthew Pike with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Christchurch City Choir

2010

NZ composer Gareth Farr’s extraordinary composition Aoraki
The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Ken Young, will perform and the winner of this year’s Queenstown Violin Summer School Artistic Award, Kana Ohashi, will appear with the CSO as part of her prize.
The Christchurch City Choir will perform after a ten year absence
The Flower Duet from the opera Lakme (Rachel Doig and Maree Hawtin-Morrow)
Ennio Morricone’s theme Gabriel’s Oboe, from the movie The Mission (oboist Peter Dykes)
Schindler’s List (Kevin Lefohn, Artistic Administrator of the CSO)
Naomi Ferguson, one of New Zealand’s leading singer-songwriters, will join forces with Matthew Pike, fresh from recent performances in Miss Saigon, to present a vocal compilation of themes from other great movies
Pianist John-Paul Muir, winner of last year’s National Concerto Competition, will perform the Warsaw Concerto for the famous fireworks finale.

2009

Southern Opera
Showbiz Christchurch

2009’s fireworks finale was accompanied by the William Tell Overture (familiar to most people as the theme to ‘The Lone Ranger’).

2008

Bic Runga
Geoff Sewell from Amici Forever
Elena (classic rock violin)
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

The concert concluded with Wagner’s Ride Of The Valkyries and a spectacular fireworks finale.

Classical Sparks facts

Classical Sparks is one of only two events that have remained part of Christchurch’s SummerTimes festival since its inception in 1983.

The event attracted an audience of 6,000 in 1983, but today’s crowds are in the region of 120,000 people.

Classical Sparks has featured internationally renowned performers such as Hayley Westenra and Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

2007

Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture was the music used for the Grand Finale with fireworks and the bells of Christ Church Cathedral.

2006

From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs: Gareth Farr
Tzigane: Ravel
Hungarian Dance No5: Brahms
Carmen Habanera Carmen Seguidilla: Bizet
Wein, Weis und Gesang (Wine, women and song): Johann Strauss
Carmen Fantasy: Waxman
Stride La Vampa La Travatore: Verdi
Czardas Die Fledermaus: Johann Strauss
Slavonic Dances: Dvorak

2005

View from Olympus: John Psathas
Porgy & Bess: Gershwhin

2004

William Tell Overture (familiar to most people as the theme to ‘The Lone Ranger’): Rossini
Spartacus (better known as the theme to the classic British 1970s costume drama, ‘The Onedin Line’): Khachaturian
Summer from the Four Seasons: Vivaldi
The Blue Danube: J. S. Strauss
Fanfare of the Common Man: Copland
Suite Number 1 from Carmen: Bizet
Ride of The Valkyries: Wagner