Graham Sattler reviews Voices of Ōtākaro, presented by UC Music, at the Great Hall at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, Sunday 17 August 2025, performed by Gabriel Baird, Zara Ballara, Naomi Ferguson, Jason Gong, Yumeka Hildreth, Naomi Hnat, Kyle Hsieh, Sára Kadas, Harry Kim, Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaui, Mark Menzies, Angela Mote, Henry Nicholson, Johnathan Prior, Luka Reardon, Mitchell Scales, Iola Shelley, Helen Webby, Sho Woodhouse, Ciaran Wright and Yifan Yang.
“This is what a University Music Performance programme should be doing” I heard someone saying…
Unashamed, adventurous, skilfully curated and prepared, this performance demonstrated respect for the artform and the creatives, tackling contemporary performance techniques and requirements with great care and without prejudice.
The title of the programme not only referenced the most substantial (in terms of number of performers) piece of the afternoon, but also aptly, to my mind, summed up the contribution of the collected repertoire and performers.
The programme offered three brackets of waiata, which opened the programme and were interspersed throughout. These were performed by soprano Zara Ballara, who, through their doctoral programme, the Waiata Project, has provided a rich collection of reimagined and restudied waiata in collaboration with a number of Ōtautahi arrangers and composers. Other works included a truly charming set of five songs by David Roitstein (settings of texts by poet Mary Oliver) for violin, voice, clarinet and bassoon, that evidenced an impressive and intelligent approach to the voice as a chamber music instrument; the aforementioned “Fragments from Te Reo ki Ōtākaro”, composed by Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaui and Reuben de Lautour, which was as beautiful and informative as when I first heard it in full with orchestra at UC’s 150th celebration concert in 2023; “Ancient Voices of Children” by American composer George Crumb; and rather delightfully, with not atypical generosity of the Music Director Professor Mark Menzies, a performance of a sweet 18th century Italian song (Paisiello’s “Nel cor più non mi sento”) by boy soprano Mitchell Scales.
Forgive me for not listing the items in order, but from my perspective this reflection is not so much a procedural record of the presentation, but rather a grateful response for a showcase of intent, imagination, skilful delivery, and focused, respectful musicianship.
The performance overall was a treat, the curation of the programme was a delight, the performers demonstrated skill and generosity, and as stated above (and voiced a number of times over the past day or so)… This… is exactly what a University Music Performance programme should be doing…
And yes, that particular voice was my own.
Voices of Ōtākaro was presented as part of the Arts Centre Chamber Series, and produced by Naomi van den Broek for UC Music. Dr Graham Sattler is the CEO of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
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