Michael Joel — New Zealand

Michael Joel, talented New Zealand conducter. Orchestras, choirs, opera, musicals: Michael enjoys them all.

CDs featuring Michael Joel's work

Outrageous Fortune

Gillian Whitehead, Composer
Christine Johnston, Librettist
Michael Joel, Conductor

Comissioned to celebrate New Zealand's Otago 150th Anniversary.

“An opera ‘raunchy rather than high class,’ which would be relevant to Otago's history and which would appeal to a wide audience. The opera was to be a statement of the settlers themselves, something that should be seen.”

2 Acts, 2 CDs

Otago Commemmorative Trust

Purchase from SOUNZ

Biography — Michael Joel

Studied at Otago University, since then conducting with orchcestra and opera company

• Began conducting in 1987 with the Dunedin Youth Orchestra
• Taught by Peter Adams and by Associate-Professor Jack Speirs.
• First class honours degree in music, majoring in conducting from the University of Otago in 1993.
• Trainee Conductor to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra 1993
• Assistant Conductor for Canterbury Opera’s premiere production of Phillip Norman's A Christmas Carol.

Ongoing training with masters and an International summer school

• conducting master-classes given by:
• James Judd
• Heinz Wallberg
• John Hopkins
• Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
• Dartington International Summer School in 1999.

Conducting choirs, sinfonia and orchestras both nationally and regionally in New Zealand

• Kapiti Concert Orchestra
• Saint Matthew's Chamber Orchestra
• Hawke's Bay Orchestra
• Wellington Chamber Orchestra
• The Dunedin Sinfonia
• The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (in concert)
• The City of Dunedin Choir
• The New Zealand National Youth Orchestra, Assistant Conductor

Theatre work: opera and musical productions

• University of Otago Music Department
• Opera Otago

Conducted premières of two New Zealand operas:

• Gillian Whitehead’s Outrageous Fortune and
• John Drummond’s The Stars in Orion

Since the turn of the century

• Conductor of performances in Canterbury Opera's productions of Lakme and La Traviata
• Conductor of Opera Hawkes Bay's production of Die Fledermaus
• Enjoys an ongoing relationship with St Matthews Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor of performances by Wellington Chamber Orchestra and Kapiti Concert Orchestra
• Assistant to Marco Guidarini in the Wellington International Festival 2000’s production of Simon Boccanegra.
• Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for Canterbury Opera’s productions:
• Tales of Hoffmann 2001
• Turandot 2001
• Norma 2002
• Cosi fan tutte 2002
• Conductor of Canterbury Opera Youth season of Jam 2002

Reviews — Michael Joel

New children's work a success

“Jam by Rachel Clement (libretto by Margaret Mahy), presented by Canterbury Opera and members of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra at the Repertory Theatre.

“The 10-strong orchestra led by conductor Michael Joel kept things humming along but never threatened to overwhelm the singers.

“Hopefully Jam will be picked up by other companies as the rest of New Zealand would surely enjoy it too.

Guy Grant, Christchurch Star

Opera Jam great fun

“Jam, a freshly made New Zealand opera. Composed by Rachel Clement, based on a book by Margaret Mahey, presented by Canterbury Opera Youth, conducted by Michael Joel, director, Eilish Moran, choreographer, Greer Robertson, with Sophia Bidwell, piano, and members of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra. Repertory Theatre, opening night, Friday August 16.

“The performers, all except Mr and Mrs Castle, are children of Canterbury Opera Youth, and made a wonderful job of a score that was often uncompromising, with tricky and irregular rhythms and dissonant part singing. There was much to memorise and some exacting movement and acting. Not once did the performance sound strained or uncomfortable.

“This was a creditable achievement by any standards for an opening night.
More than any words from an adult reviewer, however, the real measure of the success of Jam was in the attention and response of the children in the audience.

David Sell, The Press

Sinfonia strikes a chord with audience

“Sinfonia’s annual spring concert
Conductor Michael Joel received the loudest welcome from the audience as he stepped on to the podium. Rebecca Fox, Otago Daily Times