Nelson Opera In The Park Set To BE A Big Night Out

Nelson Opera In The Park Set To BE A Big Night Out

The long range forecast is for fine weather, tickets are walking out the door at Everyman, the city council has come to the party with a big screen and the stars fly in on Friday – Saturday night’s Nelson Opera in the Park is looking set to be a big night out.  
 
Musical Director Pete Rainey says the big screen just had to happen.
 
“Having given people a close up view of the orchestra and soloists for the last three years we couldn’t go back to the days when the stage was brightly lit but far off,” he said. “Fortunately the council saw that having picked up the sponsorship of the event they really needed to make the investment in the big screen.”
 
The line up features Simon O’Neill, fresh from La Scala and Carnegie Hall, tenor Ben Makisi, lyric soprano Aivale Cole, soprano Xing Xing, folk duo Lipscombe and Swan, and soul singer Bella Kalolo plus the Topp Twins, all with the backing of the Vector Wellington Orchestra.
 
Pete Rainey says it’s a great opportunity for people to experience Trafalgar Park as a venue that’s not just about sports.
 
“Part of the reason the council put the investment into the park upgrade was to have it as a venue for events just like this,” he said. “What other town has an outdoor events venue right in its main street? Nelson is very lucky.”
 
Nelson City CouncilFestival Creative Director Annabel Norman says people are getting into the Pacifika theme.
 
“We have a new creative team decorating the stage, the gates and the lighting tower with Pacifika imagery,” she said. “And the pre-show entertainment that starts with Nelson and Motueka ukulele groups at the gates, followed by the Pacifika Youth Group and Nelson Ukulele Orchestra on stage from 5.45pm is very much in theme – I’m hoping we’ll see the crowd in their Hawaiian shirts or at least sporting leis.”  

The Nelson Samoan community will be selling leis at the gates in a fundraiser for the Samoan tsunami relief fund.
 
Nelson Opera in the Park is on 26 February 2011, at Trafalgar Park, gates open 5.30, event starts 7.30pm. Adults $15, children 5-15 $5, children U5 free. Thanks to Everyman there is no booking fee and thanks to Pic’s Real Peanut Butter and Combat Pyrotechnics there will be fireworks.
 
Nelson Opera in the Park is part of Summer in Nelson, presented by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an attraction for visitors.
 
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