Benjamin Fifita Makisi - Tenor

Operatunity is Proud to Present:
Benjamin Fifita Makisi - Tenor

Talented tenor Benjamin Fifita Makisi (recently seen as the soloist at Sir Edmund Hillary’s funeral) is returning to New Zealand from his contract with Opera Australia to perform in a series of concerts presented throughout New Zealand by Operatunity. Benjamin and the very popular Operatunity Daytime Concerts will be seen from Whangarei to Invercargill in a concert entitled “What a wonderful World” which will see him perform solos and duets (including Nessun Dorma, the Pearl Fishers Duet & the Act 1 finale from La Boheme) as well as popular items such as Come back to Sorrento and Girls were made to love and kiss.

Operatunity and its well known singers/directors Susan Boland, John Cameron and Geoffrey Hughes, who have presented these sell out concerts for over 7 years, will be joining Ben to present their special blend of fine music and fun.

These well received concerts are presented at 11.00 am and run for an hour and a half and then the audience are hosted to lunch by the performers with a chance to chat with them, and catch up with friends.

The demand for these concerts has seen them expand from their initial first audience of 13 to regularly selling out many venues and scheduling a second show at 2 pm.

To see the fabulous Ben in concert with Sue, John and Geoffrey bookings are essential and are available on toll free 0508 266 237 or visit them at www.operatunity.co.nz. We have a double pass to give away, just contact us to go into the draw.....

His profile- Fifita Makisi was born in New Zealand and is of Tongan and Samoan origins. He has studied extensively in NZ, USA and Australia. He is becoming one of Australasia's rising young tenors.

He has studied Masters of Performance at the University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Australia (1999 - 2000) and graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at Victoria University in Wellington, NZ (1992).

He has won many awards and Eisteddfod competitions here and abroad including the winner of the McDonalds Aria Competition in Sydney 2002, the Lockwood Aria in Rotorua NZ 2001 and the recipient of the Iosefa Enari Memorial Opera Award 2002 and the Helpmann Fellowship Award 1999.

Ben has toured extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand and has performed lead tenor roles with NBR New Zealand Opera including Count Almaviva: The Barber of Seville, Ferrando: Cosi fan Tutte, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Pong in the recent production of Turandot. He has recently sung tenor solos with Auckland Choral Society, and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and returns to NZ following a contract with Opera Australia.

Auckland Venues
Avondale Encounter Christian Centre: 495 Rosebank Road, Avondale
Botany St Columba Church: 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany
North Shore Windsor Park Baptist Church: 550 East Coast Road, Mairangi Bay
Orewa Centrestage Theatre: 60 Centreway Rd, Orewa
Papakura Hawkins Centre Theatre: 13 Ray Small Drive, Papakura
Remuera Somervell Church Auditorium: 497 Remuera Rd, Remuera

North Island Tour Venues
Hamilton Central Baptist Church: 33 Charlemont Street, Hamilton
Kapiti Meadows New Life Church: 1 Realm Drive, Paraparaumu
Lower Hutt Assembly of God Church: 22 Marsden Street, Lower Hutt
Napier Napier Municipal Theatre: 116 Tennyson Street, Napier
New Plymouth Citywestchurch: (formerly A.O.G.) 62c Poplar Grove, New Plymouth
Palmerston North Palmerston North Convention Centre: 400 Main Street West, P.N
Taupo Great Lake Centre: Story Place, Taupo
Tauranga Holy Trinity Church: Corner 3rd Ave and Devonport Rd, Tauranga
Thames War Memorial Civic Centre: 200 Mary Street, Thames
Wanganui Wall Memorial Hall - Concert Chamber: Watt Street, Wanganui

South Island Tour Venues
Blenheim Marlborough Convention Centre: Corner of Alfred & John Street, Blenheim
Christchurch La Vida Centre - 34a Hansons Lane, Upper Riccarton
Dunedin Mosgiel Coronation Hall: 97 Gordon Rd, Mosgiel
Greymouth Regent Theatre: Corner of Mackay & Herbert Sts, Greymouth
Invercargill Civic Theatre: 88 Tay Street, Invercargill
Nelson Hope Community Church: Ranzau Road West, Hope, Nelson
Timaru Theatre Royal: 118 Stafford Street, Timaru

What A Wonderful World
Auckland Tour Venues
Avondale May 13th
Botany May 20th
North Shore May 12th
Orewa April 30th
Papakura May 22nd
Remuera May 19th

South Island Tour Venues
Blenheim May 26th
Christchurch May 27th
Dunedin May 30th
Invercargill May 29th
Nelson May 23rd
Timaru May 28th

North Island Tour Venues
Hamilton May 1st
Lower Hutt May 5th
Kapiti May 6th
Napier May 2nd
New Plymouth May 9th
Palmerston North May 7th
Tauranga May 14th
Taupo May 21st
Thames May 15th
Wanganui May 8th
Whangarei May 16th

ENDS

www.operatunity.co.nz

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