Bay of Plenty Symphonia is in gypsy mood for the first programme of its 40th anniversary year on Sunday.
The Bay's community orchestra will be joined by two fantastic soloists - popular local soprano Anna Hawkins and up-and coming violinist Brigitte Balzat.
Under the direction of conductor Justus Rozemond,
the orchestra will accompany Hawkins as she portrays the most famous of gypsy girls in arias from Bizet's opera Carmen. With her dark allure and stunning voice, Hawkins is sure to capture the essence of this Spanish femme fatale.
Although Hawkins now focuses on the "crossover" genre, she is classically
trained. So her interpretation of Dvorak's Gypsy Songs, including the evocative Songs My Mother Taught Me will be a real treat for the audience. Hawkins is well known to local audiences and has performed previously with BOP Symphonia, which is delighted to welcome her back.
Nineteen-year-old Brigitte Balzat joins the symphonia for the first time but has previously played in Tauranga to great acclaim, as soloist with Opus Orchestra. She will dazzle the audience with two well known showpieces for violin and orchestra - the energetic Czardas by Monti and Sarasate's famous Zigeunerweisenor Gypsy Air.
