Symphonic celebration of women

A big crowd packed the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday evening for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s final 2025 concert.

They put away classical scores and were joined by extra percussionists, guitar, bass guitar and keyboards for a celebration of songs by female singers and songwriters, entitled "Simply The Best".

Many arrangements were by Tom Rainey who conducted a selection of timeless songs chosen to highlight female artists, both past and present.

Three very professional singers — Jackie Clarke, Naomi Ferguson and Arlie McCormick — worked their way through 23 songs, all with emotional vibrancy, movement and respect for the women associated with various covers. I found the overall balance excellent — never instrumentally too loud. Coloured lighting moving over the auditorium created a great atmosphere. There were people dancing in the aisles.

The soloists took turns in presenting, providing harmony and backing when appropriate for choruses or repeats.

They opened with Natural Woman, I Feel the Earth Move and Because You Loved Me, acknowledging Carole King, Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion. James Bond vibes came with Adele’s Skyfall. Other numbers were Clarke’s favourite "break-up" song I Can’t Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt), Sway (Bic Runga), I’m Coming Out (Diana Ross), Shake It Off (Taylor Swift), How Will I Know (Whitney Houston), Simply The Best (Tina Turner) and Abba’s SOS.

An absolute highlight came when Ferguson donned a loose red coat to dance as she delivered Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights. A medley of Burt Bacharach melodies, then Hymne a l’Amour (Edith Piaf) and River Deep Mountain High (Tina Turner) were perhaps more familiar to older patrons. Dolly Parton was remembered with 9 to 5 and Peggy Lee with Is That All There Is.

The DSO’s collaboration with the University of Otago’s School of Performing Arts was acknowledged and recent graduate Shannon Burnett provided harmonies and soloed, as did local teacher Clare Lewis.

Chaka Khan’s empowering anthem I’m Every Woman ended a great symphonic celebration of women in song.