Renowned opera singers are lending their vocal skills to Broadway in an upcoming
fundraiser for Waipuna Hospice.
From Broadway to the Met is a mixture of music theatre and opera, organised by respected piano accompanist Rosemary Barnes and Waipuna Hospice fundraising manager Trish Rae. Rosemary says the concert stars were
picked for their ability to make the switch from opera to musical theatre.
The night will be a varied programme of Broadway hits, classical songs, arias and opera starring Grace Park, Kate Spence and Martin Snell, while Barnes will play piano.
Park is a versatile performer who excels at music theatre, with a wonderful opera voice and the ability to do a breath-taking coloratura (a rapid succession of notes). Spence has a rich contralto voice and has won awards here and abroad. She has sung solo roles with Opera Queensland, Oz Opera, Opera NZ and the English National Opera. Snell provides the international element. He is originally from Dunedin but now resides in Switzerland. He was a resident artist with Theatre St Gallen, Theatre Basel and Luzerner Theatre and has an extensive range.
Barnes has accompanied almost all of New Zealand's leading singers, and during her time in Britain was one of London's most sought-after accompanists.
