Ravishing Operatic Arias & Popular Classical Music

MEDIA RELEASE

20 February 01

RAVISHING OPERATIC ARIAS AND POPULAR CLASSICAL MUSIC

Ravishing, operatic arias, a delightful Mozart Symphony and themes from Handel's popular Water Music are the highlights of the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra's opening concert of 2001 in Wellington.

The NZCO introduces Australians singing sensation, soprano Emma Matthews, on her first visit to New Zealand. Winner of the 1996 Remy Martin Australian Opera Award, Emma is an established concert artist and will perform, on 13 March at the Opera House, romantic and popular arias from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and arias from Handel's Rinaldo, an opera full of fantasy and sorcery.

The orchestra will also perform Handel's Concerto in F featuring music from the famous Handel Water Music Suite which when premiered marked one of the first times French Horns were heard by the British public. They will also perform Mozart's enchanting Symphony No 20.

Emma Matthews graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the West Australian Conservatorium in 1992. She is currently a Principal Resident Artist of Opera Australia, where she made her debut as Damigella in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea in 1993. She has since performed all over Australia in diverse roles with the West Australian Opera, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney and Melbourne Symphony and Music Theatre Sydney. Emma also debuted in Europe at the International Fashion Awards, Paris.

The New Zealand Chamber Orchestra is a division of the NZSO. Founded in 1987 from leading players of the symphony orchestra, they regularly perform with distinguished international and NZ soloists, who have included, the German Tenor Peter Schreier, English pianist Richard Rodney Bennet, pianist Michael Houstoun, tenor Patrick Power and percussionist/composer Gareth Farr.

PROGRAMME
The New Zealand Chamber Orchestra

Tuesday, 13 March 2001, 8pm, The Opera House WELLINGTON

Donald Armstrong Music Director
Emma Matthews Soprano

Handel Overture & Arias - Rinaldo
Handel Concerto in F
Handel Overture & Arias - Giulio Cesare
Mozart Deh vieni non tarder:Voi che sapete - The Marriage of Figaro
Mozart Symphony No 20 in D
Mozart Concert Aria - Lieve son al par del vento

Ticket Prices
$50 and $30 plus concessions
Book at Ticketek - 04 384 3840
A transaction fee may apply

NZSO reserves the right to change artists and programmes without notice.

For Further information or photographs, please contact NZSO publicist, Hannah Evan on (04) 801 3833 or (025) 300 680.

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