Classical review: Thrills and chills at APO year-ender

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Celebrate Christmas is a seasonal signing-off so popular that it can sustain two well-patronised Parnell performances.

It set off with a welcome Baroque bias. Conductor Johannes Fritzsch took the Graduate Choir NZ and orchestra through a spirited opening chorus from Bach's Christmas Oratorio and soprano Madeleine Pierard's three arias included Handel's Let the Bright Seraphim.

Full marks for the choir and conductor Terence Maskell for not pulling punches in the celebratory joy of Sweelinck's Hodie Christus natus est.

In the second half, after a well-played Nicolai overture, Chris Artley's Love Came Down at Christmas was pretty enough to run under the titles of a holiday rom-com. Goosebumps threatened when Pierard, choir, orchestra and the cathedral's multimillion-dollar organ brought O Holy Night to a climax.

For the finale, Maskell's choir, placed in the aisles, introduced Silent Night in vibrant te reo, inspiring a hearty audience response in English.

What: Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Where: Holy Trinity Cathedral
When: Saturday
Reviewer: William Dart