Internationally acclaimed opera singer Simon O'Neill will feature at an opulent gala dinner for the Hearing House children's charity at Auckland's Langham Hotel in December.
O'Neill is performing the role of Siegmund in Wagner's Die Walkure at Covent Garden in London and will perform in Berlin and Tokyo before flying back to New Zealand in late November.
International media have described the Kiwi singer as a "turbo-charged tenor" and the London Daily Telegraph has said he is "the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade".
O'Neill is a principal artist with both Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and perhaps the world's most famous opera house, La Scala in Milan, Italy, and is booked up years in advance.
He is donating his talents for A Magical Evening With Simon O'Neill and Friends on Saturday, December 1.
The Hearing House's chief executive, Scott Johnston, says he is thrilled that O'Neill and a talented line-up of singers will help raise funds for deaf children with cochlear implants and hearing aids.
"The Hearing House provides free therapy so that deaf children can hear and speak and it's simply fabulous that someone of Simon's calibre is happy to lend his voice so we can continue to provide free services to deaf children and their families."
Also singing are Amanda Winfield, Jared Holt, Ben Makisi, Cameron Barclay and Elisha Fa'i-Hulton. Auckland sopranos Tizane McEvoy and Tamsyn Miller will also be performing. Internationally acclaimed pianist Stephen De Pledge. The Great Operatunities Trust - which mentors young singers - will also raise funds on the evening.
Tickets: $225 each or $2000 for a table of 10 people and include the concert, a three-course dinner and beverages.
Contact: The Hearing House, ph (09) 579 2333; The Great Operatunities Trust, ph 0508 266 237; email concertsadmin@operatunity.co.nz.