An Avondale Conservatorium performance of Sir Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

Experience the spectacular musical sensation that is Sir Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace in a collaboration between Newcastle Wind Orchestra, Avondale Singers and Port Harmony featuring Kathryn Dries as mezzo soprano soloist with conductors Dr Ian Cook and Aleta King.

Since its premiere performance in London’s Royal Albert Hall on April 25, 2000, this stunning portrayal of peace and hope amidst the horror of war continues to enchant performers and their audiences and garner enduring global popularity.

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a timely commemoration for 2018, which is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

It is also the Australian premiere performance of Martin Ellerby’s superbly orchestrated 2010 concert band arrangement.

This multimedia performance will also feature creative dance movement and Associate Professor Daniel Reynaud’s moving narration of excerpts from his new book.

Anzac Spirituality explores the spiritual beliefs and experiences of the Anzacs largely through their own words. Far from being indifferent to spiritual matters, the diaries and letters of more than 1000 soldiers of the First Australian Imperial Force reveal an interest in matters of the soul and a deep engagement with God, religion and the human spirit. Reynaud will give voice to the Anzacs’ thoughts about: institutional religion; personal beliefs and spiritual practices; and morality and ethics.

Anzac Spirituality will be available at the special price of $40 during an intermission that includes the sale of light refreshments.

Biography

Daniel Reynaud is Associate Professor of History in the Discipline of Humanities and Creative Arts at Avondale College of Higher Education. His main research interests lie in the challenging aspects of Anzac mythology, especially in cinema and on religion, where the notion of the secularity of the Anzacs has reached dogmatic proportions. Previous publications include Celluloid Anzacs (Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2007) and The Man the Anzacs Revered: William “Fighting Mac” McKenzie (Signs Publishing, 2015). Reynaud has written, and appeared in, seven documentaries about the Anzacs and religion. He has also worked with the National Film and Sound Archive in the recovery and partial reconstruction of several silent films, including The Hero of the Dardanelles (1915), Australia’s first Gallipoli movie.