Star line-up for Summer Matinee

Media Release

for immediate release

27 February 2006

Star line-up for Summer Matinée

Now in its 22nd year, the Auckland Philharmonia’s annual Summer Matinée is regarded as Auckland’s most sophisticated outdoor concert.

For the second year, the Summer Matinée, which is proudly sponsored by Mazda and Villa Maria Estate, is being held in the picturesque grounds of Villa Maria Estate winery. The sprawling vineyard, which is surrounded by 20 hectares of vines, mature trees and terraces, provides a stunning environment for a sumptuous picnic lunch, fine wine and excellent music provided by the Auckland Philharmonia and special guest artists…

Jennifer Ward-Lealand, an actor, singer and director who has worked extensively in theatre, film and television for over 20 years, is guest compère for the Summer Matinée.

Guest soloists include Tim Beveridge, a vocalist of great versatility who has won a series of roles on the international musical theatre circuit and has been enthusiastically received by New Zealand audiences; soprano Viktoria Dodoka, a graduate of the Tchaikovsky State Conservatoire who has performed lead roles with the Moscow Opera and recently Canterbury Opera; and young opera stars who are working with the NBR NZ Opera this year as part of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists programme. The Auckland Philharmonia is conducted by leading young New Zealand conductor Hamish McKeich.

The programme for this elegant musical event includes works by Glinka, Sibelius, Rossini, Katchaturian, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dvořák and Verdi.

The Summer Matinée is a fundraising event for the Auckland Philharmonia with the orchestra musicians, conductor and soloists donating their services.

Auckland Philharmonia Summer Matinée

Sunday 26 March – 12noon to 3.30pm

Grounds of Villa Maria Estate, Montgomerie Road, Manukau

Tickets (adults: $69; children under twelve: $25) include the concert plus a generously-filled (regular or vegetarian) picnic hamper with Villa Maria wine or fruit juice.

Villa Maria Estate provides ample parking, or a specially chartered bus from Dominion Road is available.

Bookings: Phone 0800 744 542 or go to www.aucklandphil.co.nz

The Auckland Philharmonia receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and major grants from Auckland City and the ASB Charitable Trust.

ENDS

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