AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS WITH DAME KIRI – ON MĀORI TELEVISION!

22 April 2008

It’s always something special when Dame Kiri Te Kanawa comes home to sing. Now Māori Television will showcase one of her most magical evenings yet with SEALORD OPERA IN THE PARK screening in the Sunday Feature slot, Kiriata Rātapu, on Sunday April 27 at 9.00 PM.

More than 12,000 people turned up this year with their picnics and comfy chairs for SEALORD OPERA IN THE PARK held in February at Trafalgar Park in Nelson. The annual event was turning 10 and with a bill that boasted not just Dame Kiri but ‘and friends’ too – many of them world-famous performers in their own right – it was always going to be a stand-out occasion.

Among the line up was Simon O’Neill – one of the most sought-after tenors on the international stage whose popularity has him booked for engagements years in advance. Bass baritone Jonathan Lemalu, noted for his commanding stage presence, wowed the crowd with a voice that continues to earn him admirers at home and abroad. And it was double the brilliance when the two male singers paired for a duet – an aria from The Pearl Fishers by Bizet.

Also on the programme: an ensemble from Opera Factory in Auckland, which performed a piece from Les Miserables; and Helen Medlyn – perhaps this country’s best-known mezzo – stepped out to prove why her fine and versatile voice has made her such a crowd favourite. The Vector Wellington Orchestra provided the music for the evening, led by conductor Marc Taddei.

Of course, the star of the show was always going to be Dame Kiri herself, and she did not disappoint. The soprano proved once again why she is considered one of the greatest of all time – and re-affirmed her status as a beloved national treasure. The evening highlight for many – her spine-tingling solo rendition of Pokarekare Ana.

Māori Television was there to capture the magic – now viewers can too! Watch SEALORD OPERA IN THE PARK in the Sunday Feature slot, Kiriata Rātapu, on Sunday April 27 at 9.00 PM.

Ends

Merilee Andrews
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI: +64 9 539 7092
EML: merilee.andrews@maoritelevision.com