Community Classics

Presenter Nick Hall
Conductor Reuben Brown
Vocalist Jessie Cassin
Vocalist Rutene Spooner

Mozart Cosi Fan Tutte: Overture
Salina Fisher Galaxy
R. Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra: Intro
Debussy (arr. Luck) Clair de lune
Lucy Mulgan when you and I collide (premiere)

Journey through stellar music by superstar composers and performers with Community Classics: Beyond the Stars — a sparkling concert series hosted by charismatic performer Nick Hall (who you may also know as the drag queen Anita Wigl'it) in South, North and Central venues across Tāmaki Makaurau.

These concerts offer an uplifting and relaxed hour of music for everyone, featuring such masterpieces as Debussy’s Clair de lune, Richard Strauss’ thrilling Also sprach Zarathustra (featured in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey), and Mozart’s playful Cosi Fan Tutte Overture. The programme weaves together beloved classics with fresh sounds from Aotearoa, including Salina Fisher’s Galaxy, inspired by stargazing over Akoranga Harbour.

The concert also premieres when you and I collide, a vibrant new piece by Kiwi composer Lucy Mulgan. The work features a medley of iconic New Zealand pop anthems by Bic Runga, Dragon, and Fat Freddy’s Drop, given an orchestral twist and brought to life by powerhouse vocalists Jessie Cassin and Rutene Spooner.