ANTHONY RITCHIE
"Anthony Ritchie's marvellous Second String Quartet is merely one of a growing number of NZ works which is triumphantly fulfilling Douglas Lilburn's dictum regarding the need for having "a music of our own."
Here was a work that engaged the listener in responses to sounds that ranged across the full gamut of imagination, right from the work's arresting opening."
- Peter Mechen | Radio NZ Concert.
John & Anthony Ritchie with the NZSQ; Marama Hall, October 5 2011
CAROLS FOR ORCHESTRA
Anthony's new arrangements of Christmas carols were performed by the NZ Symphony Orchestra during their North Island and Heartland tours in December. With a part for solo singer, these witty carol arrangements allow plenty of opportunity for the audience to join in and sing.
SULTRY
Anthony has had a recent guitar piece called Sultry performed and recorded by internationally renowned guitarist, Matthew Marshall. Watch this performance here.
MOUNTAINS & RIVERS ON CD
Anthony's 3 new choral songs Mountains and Rivers has been released on CD by The Jubilate Singers of Christchurch, under conductor Grant Hutchinson. The new CD is called Southern Landscapes and is all South Island music. You can order this CD from SOUNZ (see www.sounz.org.nz).
DEDICATION TO DAD!
John Ritchie's 90th birthday was celebrated recently with a concert staged by The Christchurch Civic Music Council in the CBS Arena. Anthony (John's son) was asked to write a piece for the occasion, for the many participants to join in with. Dedication to DAD! for soprano, choir and orchestra is based on 2 of John's themes, and ends with a rousing version of 'Happy Birthday.'
Premiere of 'Dedication to DAD!' at John Ritchie's 90th Celebration; CBS Arena, Nov. 24 2011
NEW CD OCTOPUS
A new CD of Anthony's recent chamber music has been released by Atoll Records, performed by members of the NZ Symphony Orchestra. 'Octopus' takes its title from the Octet written for The Amici Ensemble, and is one of three programmatic pieces on the album. The CD has received favourable reviews.
"Taken as a whole, I think this is the most completely successful single disc of those devoted to the music of Anthony Ritchie - partly to do with the quality of the performances, but I think also a matter of the works chosen for the CD. In particular, I'm enormously impressed by Ritchie's Second String Quartet, a genuinely powerful addition to the repertoire for that ensemble."
- Robert Johnson | Radio NZ Concert.
To order this CD click on 'Recordings' above.