Countdown On To The Skycity Starlight Symphony 04

Countdown On To The Skycity Starlight Symphony 2004

The excitement is building with just one day to go until the 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony, to be held tomorrow, (Saturday 14 February), at the Auckland Domain.

With a programme that includes all the favourites plus several new highlight acts and special appearances, this year’s event is guaranteed to deliver plenty of crowd-pleasing entertainment under the stars on Valentines Day.

In the spirit of romance, event hosts John Hawkesby and daughter Kate Hawkesby will encourage the 200,000 strong crowd to waltz, on mass, to the Blue Danube Strauss Waltz at the end of the first half, led by a troupe of “Ginger Rogers” and “Fred Astairs” dancing on stage.

The recipient charity for the 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony is The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, whose campaign colour – pink - will feature at the event. Kate Hawkesby will be wearing a pink gown especially designed by Trelise Cooper and John Hawkesby, will look a treat in a pink shirt by Saks. Two of Auckland’s leading landmarks – the Sky Tower and Auckland Museum – will be lit pink tonight, tomorrow and Sunday night (15 February) to help celebrate the event and raise awareness of the charity cause. Some of New Zealand’s most promising emerging young stars along with several of the nation’s prominent performers will give it their all at the free annual outdoor event.

Among the up and coming talent is 17 year old John Chen (piano) – who in 2003 won both The Lev Vlassenko Concerto Competition in Brisbane (open to Australasians under the age of 30), and the Kapiti Coast Piano Competition (open to New Zealanders under the age of 25), 21 year old Liam Mallett (flute), who was crowned 'Best New Zealand Wind Player' at the Gisborne International Music Competition in 2002 and 14 year old Amalia Hall (violin) – Chamber Music New Zealand School Music Contest winner (2003).

Europe based Kiwi operatic soprano Andrea Creighton returns home to perform Panis Angelicus, the famous Jewel Song from Faust, as well as the Sarah Brightman classic, A Time To Say Goodbye. Returning to SKYCITY Starlight Symphony this year are the Auckland Philharmonia with Brian Law as conductor and the SKYCITY Massed Choir conducted by John Rosser.

The modern section (top of the second half) for this year’s SKYCITY Starlight Symphony will feature top New Zealand rock Diva, Tina Cross, performing alongside young heart-throb, Nick Afoa, singing romantic hits from the musical Grease, including Summer Nights and You’re the One that I Want. Kiwi brothers, Rikki and Ian Morris (dressed by Morrison Hotel), will perform their number one smash hits from the eighties, Nobody Else and Game of Love.

Riding on the publicity crest of the chilling New Zealand romantic thriller “Perfect Strangers,” is Joel Tobeck returning home from his international filming schedule to perform one of the highlight acts for the event in the modern section. Joel will sing the Blues Brothers classic Everybody Needs Somebody to Love alongside friend Jason Te Patu.

Along with Joel and Jason’s Blues Brothers rendition on stage will be some special guests performing in a “world first car concerto.” Six cars courtesy of The Giltrap Motor Group, ranging from ‘baby’ cars (a Volkswagon Beetle and a Toyota Echo) to a couple of medium sized cars (Subaru Legacy and a Holden Calais) through to two ‘bigger’ cars (Mercedes Benz and a Porshe Cayenne) the “car concerto” will feature the cars “singing” alongside Jason and Joel. Other highlights in the programme include a special Lord of the Rings orchestral segment featuring 13 year old soloist Cassandra McCown (who will turn 13 tomorrow), a spectacular Valentines Day fireworks display, the return of the Mercury Energy laser light show and crowd pleasers Pomp and Circumstance, Tchaikowsky’s 1812 Overture, The National Anthem and Now is the Hour to round off the evening.

An army of 400 or more volunteer gold coin collectors will help fundraise for the cause at the event on Saturday. Among the volunteer collectors will be high profile sporting personalities including Beatrice Faumuina, members of the Warriors rugby league team (Karl Temata, Jerome Ropati, Richard Villasanti and Wairangi Koopu), the SKYCITY Cheer team and a number of profile media personalities such as Jayne Kiely, Geoff Bryan, Sarah Bradley and Kerre Woodham.

The concert, also supported by Auckland City, Giltrap Motor Group and Mercury Energy, will begin on February 14 2004 at 7:45pm and is estimated to conclude at around 10:30pm. A postponement date at the same time on Sunday 15 February will apply if heavy rain occurs on the morning of the 14th February. Official radio station, More FM, will carry postponement details from around midday on the 14th February 2004. Event organisers recommend that those intending to come to the SKYCITY Starlight Symphony tomorrow night, listen to More FM tomorrow morning or phone SKYCITY’s customer services line (09 363 6000) after midday if they are unsure about whether the concert is going ahead or not.

SKYCITY has been the sponsor of Starlight Symphony for six years and has been proud to support The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation in its endeavours since 2000. As well as The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, SKYCITY’s sponsorship portfolio includes Kidz First Children’s Hospital at Middlemore Hospital, Starship Children’s Hospital, the New Zealand Special Olympics Foundation, NBR NZ Opera, Auckland Rugby and the Vodafone Warriors.

PROGRAMME SUMMARY

SKYCITY STARLIGHT SYMPHONY 2004

AUCKLAND DOMAIN, 14 February 2004, from 7:45pm.

Carmen Overture: – Auckland Philharmonia. Excerpt from Carmen Fantasy 4th movement: – Amalia Hall (violin). Awake the Harp: SKYCITY Massed Choir. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 in Bb min. Opus 23 1st movement: John Chen (piano). Panis Angelicus: Andrea Creighton. ‘Valse’ (last mm of ‘Suite de trios morceaux’): Liam Mallett (flute). The Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin: SKYCITY Massed Choir. Night and Day: Tim Beveridge. She: Tim Beveridge. On the Street Where You Live: Tim Beveridge. Jewel Song from Faust: Andrea Creighton. A Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro): Andrea Creighton. Blue Danube Strauss Waltz: Auckland Philharmonia.

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