APO Loses Voigt, Gains One of History’s Top 20 Sopranos

APO Loses Voigt, Gains One of History’s Top 20 Sopranos

21/6/12

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra regrets to announce that soprano Deborah Voigt is unable to appear with the orchestra as scheduled on 12 July.

Ms Voigt underwent emergency hip surgery overnight (NZ time) and must therefore cancel her Australasian performances. She was to perform Strauss and Wagner in the APN News and Media Premier Series concert ‘Diva’, and has expressed her immense disappointment and offers her sincere apologises to her many New Zealand fans.

The APO wishes Deborah Voigt the very best for a speedy recovery.

We are, however, delighted to announce that Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Brewer will appear in Ms Voigt’s stead. Named by BBC Music magazine as one of the 20 greatest sopranos of the recorded era, Ms Brewer was declared a “superlative Strauss singer” by the New York Times and is admired around the world for her range, golden tone, power and control.

Christine Brewer’s many acclaimed recordings include Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Wagner’s ‘Liebestod’ with Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony; Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, also with Runnicles; Strauss’s Ariadne on Naxos in English for Chandos; and Mahler’s Symphony No.8 with Sir Simon Rattle for EMI. Christine Brewer was also chosen to record the opening disc in Hyperion’s ‘Complete Strauss Lieder’ series, a project that has garnered overwhelming praise.

“With busy international artist schedules, to secure an artist of Christine Brewer’s stature at short notice is almost more than we could have hoped for, and speaks volumes about the regard with which the APO is held around the world,” says Barbara Glaser, Chief Executive, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra “She is one of the great singers of our time and her recent reviews confirm her to be at her peak.

“No one likes to lose a world-class artist at short notice but there are times you fall on your feet. We are extremely pleased that this is one of those times, and look forward to a wonderful concert.”

NOTE: The 12 July concert features a small repertoire change to the advertised programme. In place of Strauss’s ‘Frühlingsfeier’, Ms Brewer performs ‘Wiegenlied’.

WHO: Christine Brewer with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Tadaaki Otaka

WHAT: APN News & Media Premier Series ‘Diva’, featuring works by R. Strauss and Wagner

WHERE: Auckland Town Hall

WHEN: Thursday 12 July

BOOKINGS: buytickets.co.nz | (09) 357 3355

ends

© Scoop Media