Dame Kiri for Nelson

One of the world's best loved and respected sopranos, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, will be back in New Zealand next year for a one off performance at Nelson's Sealord Opera in the Park, marking the popular event's tenth anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Nelson being given city status by Queen Victoria.

Musical Director Peter Rainey says he is thrilled to have signed a contract with Dame Kiri's management, securing her first ever appearance in Nelson, to perform on February 16th 2008.

"Dame Kiri is without doubt one of the greatest voices the world has ever known and it is a major coup for us to stage this landmark performance in Nelson," he said. "I can't think of a more significant artist that has ever performed in this city."

Dame Kiri continues to have a very busy international concert schedule performing in nearly 40 concerts each year. In the 12 months prior to the concert she will have performed in Japan, Korea, the UK, Brazil, Turkey, Jersey, Canada, Hungary, China and she flies to Nelson direct from a five concert tour of the USA.

"This will be my first visit to Nelson and I'm really looking forward to performing at the concert and to visiting special parts of the region while I am there," Dame Kiri said. "I'm also particularly pleased that the organisers have managed to secure Jonathan Lemalu, Simon O'Neill and Helen Medlyn for this very special 10th anniversary concert."

Rainey said the line up was one of the most exciting in NZ for a very long time, bringing together Dame Kiri and the cream of the young NZ singers who are making big impressions on the international concert circuit.

"Simon is a talented tenor with engagements as far ahead as La Scala in 2012 - we are incredibly lucky that he has a soft spot for Nelson and a gap next February between performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York," he said. "Jonathan is a bass baritone with a commanding presence on stage and a voice that is earning him huge accolades from audiences and critics world-wide."

Some aspects of the final line up are yet to be confirmed but Dame Kiri will be supported by the Vector Wellington Orchestra under the baton of Marc Taddei. Rainey says having mezzo-soprano Helen Medlyn offers scope for some exciting ensemble numbers.

Sealord Communications Manager Merrill Coke said Opera in the Park had been Sealord's major regional sponsorship for a decade.

"Our main base is in Nelson and our objective has been to offer the region a top class operatic experience which is accessible to the wider public. In partnership with Nelson City Council we have created an event which is a highlight of the Nelson calendar and enjoyed by many thousands of people. It's a fortunate coincidence that the tenth anniversary of Opera in the Park and Nelson's sesquicentennial fall in the same year, and together we can create a very special celebration."

The event is part of the Nelson City Council's Summer Festival and Nelson Mayor Paul Matheson said the event would showcase Nelson to the rest of the country.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for people from Wellington and Christchurch to see a world class concert in the relaxed setting of New Zealand's sunshine capital and to round out their weekend with some of the arts and wine that we are famed for," he said.

Tickets will go on sale later this year and will be priced to make the show accessible to all comers, with a special 'gold patrons' area with seating for opera lovers, corporates and individuals whose support will keep the general tickets affordable. Full details on ticket prices and seating options will be available in August at www.nelsonfestivals.co.nz

ENDS

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