Opera In the Stunning Setting of Bay of Many Coves

Opera In the Stunning Setting of Bay of Many Coves
 
May 2, 2013
 
“May the winds be gentle and the waves be calm” will echo in superb music across the pristine waters of the Marlborough sounds next month. 
 
Luxury Marlborough Sounds resort, Bay Of Many Coves, is holding its second Opera at the Bay from June 14-16 with music that describes love, family, beauty and departure.
 
The farewell trio, Soave sia il vento, from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, also provides a musical picture of the gentle wind and lapping water that surrounds the only 5-star resort in the Marlborough Sounds. 
 
Bay of Many Coves has engaged three outstanding New Zealand opera singers, sopranos Morag McDowell and Emma Roxburgh and baritone, Robert Tucker to perform arias, duets and trios from opera, operetta and musical theatre over the June weekend.
 
Their programme includes many highlights that will thrill invited guests but two, in particular, evoke the beautiful setting of the Bay of Many Coves.
 
Blenheim based, Robert Tucker, will sing Handel’s glorious aria, Ombra mai fu, which pays tribute to a mighty tree while the Lakme duet, sung by Morag and Emma, is about flowers, jasmine, roses, singing birds, the river’s current and shining waves.
 
There are plenty of impressive trees in the idyllic setting of Queen Charlotte Sound as well as tranquil water, superb local cuisine, fine New Zealand wines and luxury accommodation.
 
The idea of beautiful music in a beautiful location comes from co-owner of Bay of Many Coves, Murray McCaw. He has long seen the close affinity between celebration and singing.
 
“Food and wine play an integral part in many operas. That winning combination of the finest of Italian food and great arias will be a feature of Opera at the Bay,” he says. “In addition we see an incredible synergy between the richly evocative music of opera and our glorious venue, rich in natural beauty.”
 
To ensure guests enter the spirit of the weekend the resort is providing the finest of Italian food. They’ll be welcomed by the artists and will then enjoy a Bellini cocktail on their arrival. The centerpiece will be a six course Opera Lovers Lunch prepared by executive chef Hannes Bareiter on the Saturday.
 
Between the pastas, salads, meat platters and European style wines, the soloists will entertain with music from Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Lehar and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Nestled in the programme will be the most famous soprano aria of all time, O mio babbino caro, from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi where the young heroine implores her father to let her marry.
 
After breakfast on Sunday the trio will farewell the guests as they depart on the launch back to Picton with “gentle winds and calm waves.”
 
It’s intended Opera at the Bay will appeal not just to opera buffs but to those who would love to be introduced to opera in the tranquil setting of the Bay of May Coves resort and to turn back the clock to a time when food and wine were an integral part of celebrating the latest Verdi or Puccini  masterpiece.
 
Prices for Opera at the Bay start from $860 per person.

ENDS

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