Bad Luck Means Good Fortune for APO

Bad Luck Means Good Fortune for APO

The late withdrawal of a leading soloist never gives orchestral administrators reason to cheer, but sometimes it is a blessing in disguise.

With Eberhard Lorenz now indisposed, Matthias Wohlbrecht jumps in to sing the key role of Loge in Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's 29 July Westpac Opera in Concert performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold.

Wohlbrecht is one of the star singers with the renowned Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, a company for which he has previously sung Loge. Wohlbrecht performs in many of the world's most prestigious theatres, and early in his career was the youngest member of the choir at the world's leading opera house, La Scala.

"Matthias has a wonderful character tenor, just the kind of voice you need to bring the role of Loge to life," says Ronan Tighe, the APO's Manager of Artistic Planning. "Loge requires a big personality and a strong stage presence, both of which Wohlbrecht has in spades."

Wohlbrecht joins a stellar cast, including internationally based New Zealanders Paul Whelan as Wotan and Anna Leese, a finalist in the BBC Cardiff World Singer of the Year competition. The performance is led by APO Music Director Eckehard Stier.

"In many ways Das Rheingold is the highlight of the 2011 concert season, so to get a singer of Matthias Wohlbrecht's stature at short notice is a dream come true," says APO Chief Executive Barbara Glaser. "It says a lot about Matthias's professionalism and familiarity with this repertoire, and it also shows how the APO's reputation enables us to attract leading artists from around the world. That's good for us and even better for our audiences."

WHO: Matthias Wohlbrecht

WHAT: Loge in Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Westpac Opera in Concert performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold

WHERE: Auckland Town Hall

WHEN: 7.30pm, Friday 29 July

BOOKINGS: The EDGE, www.buytickets.co.nz, ph 0800 BUY TICKETS

This Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Westpac Opera in Concert production is proudly supported by Westpac, Trusts Charitable Foundation the Wagner Society of New Zealand and the Wagner Foundation.

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