On Saturday 25 April, Nota Bella headed to Hamilton to perform in collaboration with Hamilton Civic Choir on ANZAC day. The concert, Kia Maumahara: Voices of Remembrance, was a powerful choral collaboration honouring memory (personal, communal and national). The performance was held at St Peter’s Cathedral and was conducted by Elise Bradley, who works with both choirs.
The programme opened with David Hamilton’s A Song of Remembrance’ a poignant modern work weaving the poem We Shall Keep the Faith with the childlike refrain “Poppy, Poppy, what should we know?”.
Nota Bella then took to the stage to perform In Flanders Fields by Alexander Tilley, based on the original poem by John McCrae.
The main work of the evening, Janet Jennings’ Anzacs: A Generation Lost in Legend set words from wartime poets, and included a small instrumental ensemble, and featured young soloists Christian Thurston, Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono and Ex-Westlake student, Bella Allen-Moetaua, alongside Nota Bella as the treble choir.
The evening included a piper and a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen, attended by local dignitaries. Accompanied by organ, brass and percussion, the performance was described as a rich, reflective soundscape that honored the ANZAC spirit.
It was an unforgettable experience for our young singers to be part of such a significant commemoration and collaboration, and Nota Bella are excited to carry this momentum into their performances for the remainder of the year.
