Musical performances have always been hot in Auckland, but if you had your fill of the usual stage acts, it might be time to look for a more lit way to experience music. Enter Candlelight Concerts where melodies dance along flickering candlelight.
These glowing and golden concertos will immerse you in a fairytale-like atmosphere made more wondrous by the music of classical maestros and contemporary hitmakers.
If this caught your fancy, here are their upcoming events plus tips to further elevate your melodic and visual immersion!
In Auckland
Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen
Address: Holy Trinity Cathedral, 446 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052
Date and Time: Sat – Mar 22, 2024, and Apr 12, 2024, at 8:30 pm
Price Range: $42 to $81
Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen is a concert that’ll rock you and make you feel like a champion.
This 60-minute event is an unforgettable night where hits like “We Are The Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Killer Queen” will have you breaking free from the ordinary.
The renditions of the songs will be presented by the ever-talented Kulios String Quartet, and, like all entries on this list, the performance is set against an entrancing candlelight backdrop.
Tip: Ensure you arrive on time, as seating is allocated in each zone based on the order of arrival. Additionally, note that doors open 30 minutes before the event begins, and late entry won’t be allowed. This tip applies to all events here. |
Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works
Address: Holy Trinity Cathedral, 446 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052
Date: Sat – Mar 16, 2024, at 6:30 pm
Price Range: $44 to $83
Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works brings together the maestro of movie scores’ magnum opuses for a musical journey that’s a thousand times more epic than you’ll hear at a moviehouse.
Once again, the Kulios String Quartet will deliver renditions so exquisite and emotional that you’ll be effortlessly transported to the heart of the movies—just with a lustrous candlelight twist.
The event’s previous attendees have praised the interpretations of Wonder Woman’s theme, “Discombobulate” from Sherlock Holmes, and “Supermarine” from Dunkirk.
Tip: For the most convenient parking, head to the cathedral car park from Parnell Road, located behind St Mary’s-in-Holy Trinity. The parking rates are $6 for 4 hours or $10 for the entire day. |
Candlelight: Melodies of Popular Anime
– From gabrielhoemusic
Address: Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, 1010/429 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Date: Thu – Mar 28, 2024, at 6:30 pm
Price Range: $32 to $74
Anime has conquered the globe, and Candlelight: Melodies of Popular Anime is a fresh, sublime, and visually magical take on the tunes that give life to this cultural phenomenon.
The spectacle will highlight the haunting melodies of Demon Slayer, the whimsical tunes from Spirited Away, and the magical sounds of Howl’s Moving Castle and Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
You can also expect colossal crescendos with renditions bringing the epic world of Attack on Titan to life.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Gabriel Hoe will play all the pieces.
Tip: There’s no dress code here, so feel free to express your anime love through cosplay! It adds an extra layer of fun and excitement to the evening. |
Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
Address: Holy Trinity Cathedral, 446 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052
Date: Sat – Apr 27, 2024, at 8:30 pm
Ticket Range: $40 to $79
Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay & Imagine Dragons is a dream come true for fans of the two bands. With a live orchestra comprised of a keyboard, violin, cello, and drums, the Dolce Ensemble will enchant you with the rock titans’ greatest hits.
The magical sounds of Imagine Dragons “Follow You,” “Bad Liar,” and the iconic “Radioactive” will beautifully echo throughout Holy Trinity Cathedral, as they did in the concert’s previous venues.
And as if Imagine Dragons’ chart-toppers aren’t enough, you’ll be serenaded with Coldplay’s megahits, like “Adventure of a Lifetime,” “Fix You,” and “The Scientist.” Bring tissue or a hanky; the Dolce Ensemble’s renditions hit right in the feels.
Tip: Accessible parking awaits attendees with mobility challenges in two locations: the small car park directly in front of the Cathedral on Parnell Road and the main car park accessible from the Parnell Road entrance. |
Candlelight Jazz
Address: St. Mary’s Church, 446 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052
Date: Sat – Apr 6, 2024, at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Ticket Range: $39 to $81
Jazz is majestic, but Candlelight Jazz cranks up the classiness to eleven. This time, they’re tipping their musical hats to the legends—American singer-songwriters like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and more virtuosos of the genre.
Attendees should expect a soulful night with renditions of “Misty” by Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee’s “Ain’t We Got Fun,” Billie Holiday’s “But Beautiful,” and beyond. The phenomenal Sharon and the Blue Trio will belt out these jazz classics.
Tip: If assistance is needed, apply for a free pass for your personal assistant/support worker after purchasing your ticket. Contact Candlelight Concerts and show them your supporting documentation to ensure a hassle-free process. |
Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi
Address: Holy Trinity Cathedral, 446 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052
Date: Sat – Apr 27, 2024, at 6:30 pm
Ticket Range: $33 to $79
You’ll see and hear the spellbinding world of Japanese composer and music hitmaker Joe Hisaishi in a whole new light with Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi.
Once again, the stellar Kulios String Quartet will entice the audience with their take on musical masterpieces from shows like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Totoro, and Princess Mononoke.
Tip: One of the fastest ways to reach the venue is by train. Hop on Southern and Western Line trains, and they’ll conveniently stop at the Parnell railway station on Cheshire Street. Once you alight, enjoy a brief stroll to Parnell Rise followed by a leisurely walk up the hill to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. |
Near Auckland
Candlelight: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
Address: St. Peter’s Cathedral, 51 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204
Date: Sat – Mar 23, 2024, at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Ticket Range: $42 to $81
Travel Time From Auckland: 1 hr and 32 mins
Candlelight: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons will take you to the mind, heart, and soul of the celebrated composer Antonio Vivaldi.
As the title implies, the concert will put the spotlight on VIvaldi’s mind-blowing creation—The Four Seasons. This four-violin concerto is a musical odyssey that vividly portrays the sights and sounds of each season.
Specifically, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a composition that musically captures and beautifies nature’s finest moments, from the soothing music of birds to the immense power of a thunderstorm.
Tip: Pets aren’t allowed, but you may bring your service animal. To ensure a seamless experience, contact them at [email protected], and they will provide the necessary assistance. |
Candlelight: Tribute to Beatles on Strings
Address: St. Peter’s Cathedral, 51 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204
Date: Fri – Apr 12, 2024, at 8:30 pm
Ticket Range: $37 to $74
Travel Time From Auckland: 1 hr and 32 mins
The gripping allure of candlelight meets the magnetic prowess of the Kulios String Quartet in an unmissable tribute to the Fab Four entitled Candlelight: Tribute to Beatles on Strings.
This is a night where the timeless hits of The Beatles, like “Here Comes The Sun,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” and “Hey Jude,” get a symphonic makeover that even Lennon and McCartney would applaud.
And if previous attendees were to be believed, the concert managed to replicate and elevate the euphoria, melancholy, and playfulness of The Beatles’ timeless discography.
Tip: For a more convenient way to snag tickets, download the app for Candlelight Concerts. |