Mirth & Solace

Mirth & Solace

Palliser Viols, Sophia Acheson, Robert Oliver & Imogen Granwal, with Joan Perarnau Garriga, Violone, perform fantasies, and dances by Byrd and his contemporaries, plus consort songs and wooing songs by Byrd and Ravenscroft, with soprano Pepe Becker.

We need to cover fees for the artists, venue hire, printing etc, so we can keep admission prices affordable.

Sophia and Joan are members of NZSO, and Imogen a member of Orchestra Wellington. Pepe is a free lance musician, so we need to be able to pay fees sufficient to cover their time off work, or to put the time aside.

It is 400 years since William Byrd died, and the music of that Golden Age, while not as widely known as, for example, Shakespeare, unleashes the same intensity, beauty and power, resonating strongly with today. There are not many opportunities to hear a consort of viols live. Palliser Viols is New Zealand’s only professional consort, and the wonderful acoustic of Futuna Chapel is a perfect place to experience this beautiful sonority and wonderful music written specifically for it.

Palliser Viols most recent concert in February, Music & Memory, a concert for Barry Brickell was reviewed HERE by Elizabeth Kerr in fivelines.nz

About Robert Oliver QSM

Robert Oliver’s long and active life as a musician includes singing, playing the viol and conducting choirs. He has performed throughout New Zealand, touring frequently for Chamber Music New Zealand, as well as for Musica Viva, Australia, and throughout the British Isles. After many years as a free-lance performer, director of Cantoris and member of several early music groups, he took up the post of Director of Music at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington, a post from which he retired after 20 years.

He formed Palliser Viols 10 years ago, and the ensemble has given performances in Wellington, including in Te Papa, Futuna Chapel, St Mary of the Angels and St Andrews on the Terrace.