An Afternoon With The Nbr NZ Opera At Te Papa

An Afternoon With The Nbr New Zealand Opera At Te Papa

On Sunday 14 September, The NBR New Zealand Opera are coming to Te Papa for an afternoon of performances from 12.30 -3.00pm. Visitors will learn about how an opera comes together, hear the different voice types, watch the professionals in performance and have the opportunity to join in! The afternoon will be hosted by well-known New Zealand singer Helen Medlyn, starting with a preview of the upcoming season of Tosca. This will include musical excerpts from opera performer, Brendon Mercer, followed by Tosca director, Jonathan Cocker talking about the production and process that brings opera to the stage.

The intricacies of the human singing voice will then be demonstrated by Ms Medlyn, showing the versatility it takes to be an opera, jazz, blues, and, even bathtub, diva!

Bruce Greenfield, Head of Music Staff for The NBR New Zealand Opera, will invite members of the audience to join in with the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus, as they warm up their vocal chords. Bruce will explain the various voice types that make up an opera chorus, and have some fun identifying whether visitors are soprano, alto, tenor, or bass.

Opera Australia's Italian language coach, Renato Fresia, will also be on hand to teach the audience some of the libretto (lyrics) to the famous Verdi chorus Va Pensiero, ready to join in en masse with the Chorus.

The day culminates in a performance by the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus and guest soloists presenting some of opera's best-loved pieces.

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