Top International Opera Talents to Perform in Auck

MEDIA RELEASE
June 26, 2007

Top International Opera Talents to Perform in Auckland

ROME, THE ETERNAL CITY – Vero Aotea Series, Concert 2, Thursday 26 July, 8pm, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE

FIDELIO – Gala Opera In Concert, Friday 10 August, 8pm, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra has secured two of the world’s rising opera stars, including ex-pat tenor Simon O’Neill, to perform at concert events in July and August.

Mr O’Neill will be joined by Swedish soprano Erika Sunnegårdh to perform in Rome, the Eternal City, the APO’s second Vero Aotea Series concert, on Thursday 26 July at the Aotea Centre performing excerpts from Puccini’s Tosca amongst other works set in or about the city of Rome. Two weeks later on Friday 10 August they will star in the APO’s Gala Opera in Concert, performing the roles of Florestan and Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio at the Auckland Town Hall.

Both O’Neill and Sunnegårdh received rave reviews upon their respective debuts at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and both have performed the Fidelio roles in international productions. Mr O’Neill has been performing the role of Florestan at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London immediately prior to his Auckland performances with The Opera Critic described his performance as “monumental”.

The role of Leonore – the devoted wife who disguises herself as a man to rescue her husband from prison – is especially important to Ms Sunnegårdh. It was this role that saw her go from working as a waitress to the Met stage when she was a last minute substitute for an ill singer last year in a performance that was broadcast internationally, turning her into an overnight sensation.

“Fidelio is going to be one of the highlights of the year for classical music and opera lovers, not just in Auckland but throughout Australasia,” says APO Chief Executive, Barbara Glaser. “Both the exceptionally talented Simon O’Neill and incredible Erika Sunnegårdh are receiving world-wide acclaim for their performances of these roles and we are thrilled to have them making their New Zealand debuts in these roles with the APO at this very special concert.”

Fidelio will also feature other international opera singers and top New Zealand talents, Andrew Greenan, Peter Eglitis, Madeleine Pierard, Adrian Strooper, Malcolm Ede and The Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus of the NBR New Zealand Opera. The concert will be narrated by renowned actress, Beryl Te Wiata and conducted by Jonas Alber.

Tickets to both concerts available from Ticketek.

ENDS

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