Tauranga-based chamber choir, The Scholars Baroque Aotearoa is partnering with Opus Orchestra this month for two performances of ‘Brockes Passion' by Handel.

Musical director Chalium Poppy says the concerts – on June 24 in Tauranga, and June 25 in Hamilton – will offer audiences this fabulous composition depicting the dramatic last days of Christ told through beautiful music and Handel's familiar baroque sound, while also evoking classic German hymns.

'People with a background in choral music will be largely familiar with the two ‘Great Passions' of Bach – who was Handel's contemporary.

'I'd like really like people to know that Handel wrote this particular piece before Bach wrote his. Handel's score was Bach's prototype – when he wrote his two great choral ‘Passions' he had a copy of Handel's score in front of him. And Bach leans into what Handel did first,” says Chalium.

'This work greatly influenced the more famous passions by Bach. So it's an important piece of music – and the last piece that Handel wrote in German.”

Chalium says those who know of Scholar's Baroque Aotearoa's annual Christmas performance of Handel's ‘Messiah' can expect very similar high-quality music. 'They can look forward to the same polish and drama as that of ‘Messiah' and really, enjoy Handel's glorious Baroque sound – which people have come to expect from this choir.

'For those interested in coming, and have never come before, they can expect to hear very moving and beautiful choruses and at times virtuosic orchestral playing from Opus Orchestra.”

Chalium says the concerts will see 24 Scholar's Baroque singers join with Opus Orchestra – plus a line-up of soloists from around the country 'who are all at the top of their fields here in NZ” perform.

The concerts are Saturday, June 24, from 7.30pm at the Graham Young Youth Theatre, Tauranga Boys' College; and 2.30pm Sunday, June 25, at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato, Hamilton.

For Tauranga tickets, see: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2023/jun/brockes-passion-handel

For Hamilton tickets, see: https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/