Dionne farewells New Zealand with NZSO tour

Dionne farewells New Zealand with NZSO tour

Hot off the press, we have just heard that the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra tour with Dionne Warwick will be her final performance visit to New Zealand.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra contracted legendary American singer, Dionne Warwick to replace Burt Bacharach who had to withdraw from his New Zealand tour earlier this month.

Speaking recently, Ms Warwick said "that's what friends are for", when asked whether it was a difficult decision to step in for Mr Bacharach, going onto say "she enjoyed her previous visit to New Zealand."

Multi-Grammy winner, Warwick has moved generations of audiences. The Guardian newspaper wrote of a London concert last month "The music is wonderful. Her rich, woody voice has deepened with age, lending a splendidly full-bodied finish to everything from Anyone Who Had a Heart to 1980s charity-belter That's What Friends Are For."

Dionne Warwick's first concert in New Zealand will be in Christchurch on 30 January. The Wellington concert (originally scheduled with Bacharach for 26 January) will now be on 3 & 4 February. The dates of the Auckland concerts (1 and 2 February) are unchanged.

These special shows will include her most famous Bacharach hits, Close To You, I Say A Little Prayer, You'll Never Get To Heaven, Walk On By, Alfie, I'll Never Fall In Love Again and Do you Know The Way To San Jose?

These are the songs that established Dionne Warwick as a mega-star. Her soulful blend of pop, gospel and R&B music transcended race, culture, and musical boundaries.
As a celebration 45 years in show business, Dionne Warwick recently re-visited the album My Friends & Me. "It's something I've been trying to get done for several years," Warwick says of the project. Talking of her son producing she said, "As producer of the cd he did what producers do.... gave me a wonderful CD!"

An active supporter of charities Warwick led the music industry in the fight against AIDS. She is also involved with Love our Children USA, a unique fundraising partnership to break the cycle of violence against children.

Ms Warwick last performed in New Zealand in 1995 at the Mission Vineyard concert and more recently has performed with kiwi Lucy Lawless (Xena, Warrior Princess) in the hit American TV show Celebrity Duets.

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