Things to do  |  28 Oct 2020

Peter and the Wolf will have a fresh Kiwi sound when the CSO opens Symphony in the City in Victoria Square with Pita me te wuruhi in te reo Māori.

Translated into the southern dialect by Karuna Thurlow and narrated by performer, producer and educator Juanita Hepi, the special show for young families will be held on Saturday, 16 January, with a teo reo performance at 11am and English at 12.30pm.

It is the first in a three-concert outdoor programme presented by the Christchurch City Council in partnership with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) during the summer school holidays.

Symphony in the City continues the Council’s relationship with the CSO in 2021, even though a much-loved annual joint event, Sparks, has been postponed next year because of COVID-19.

Council Events and Arts Manager Tanya Cokojic says Symphony in the City “promises to bring a glorious summer season of live music in an intimate setting”.

“With all the challenges of the pandemic, we have worked hard with the CSO to deliver a fresh musical event for summer,” Ms Cokojic says.

“We expect these open-air productions to appeal to all ages and delight music lovers.

“We believe that these performances also provide a more accessible and inclusive option to better meet an array of musical tastes, with Symphony in the City part of our revamped events programme.

“Victoria Square also offers a flexible setting, with everyone able to simply sit back and soak up the music, and, in the case of Pita me te wuruhi, the popular children’s fairy tale perfectly ‘illustrated’ by the different sounds of the orchestra.

“We hope that everyone will make the most of a day in the city, with lunch or dinner at a local cafe or restaurant and a wander around the retail precinct.”

Latin sounds and film soundtracks will take the spotlight in the two Saturday evening concerts.

The Latin Lounge on 23 January will celebrate lounge music, including medleys by Burt Bacharach and Henry Mancini, along with performances of Mambo Italiano and Tico Tico.

Music of the Movies will wind up the summer series with blockbuster soundtracks including 2001: A Space Odyssey, James Bond themes, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. Both shows start at 6.30pm.