Big guns add to bicentennial

Anna Pierard

The Napier Civic Choir, directed by Jose Aparicio, makes its contribution to mark the bicentenary of the birth in 1813 of two of the greatest operatic composers, Italian patriot Guiseppe Verdi and German romantic visionary Richard Wagner, in a programme Verdi and Wagner Greatest Hits, in the Napier Municipal Theatre at 8pm on Saturday, Octover 12 and at 2.30pm on Sunday, October 13.

Featuring choir and orchestra plus mezzo-soprano Anna Pierard and tenor Patrick Power, back in Hawke's Bay from Australia, here is the special opportunity to enjoy well-known opera choruses, arias and overtures, including Chorus of Slaves from Nabucco, Anvil Chorus from II Trovatore, Gloria All'Egitto from Aida, the Overture from La forza del destin, all by Verdi, and Wagner selections including Pilgrims' Chorus from Tanhauser and Bridal (Wedding) March from Lohengrin.

Recently returned to New Zealand after being based in Spain, Pierard completed MMus at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and went on to attend the two-year opera studio, De Nieuwe Opera Academie, in Amsterdam.

While there, roles included Hermia in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Ruggiero in Handel's Alcina, Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi.

Last year's engagements included Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra and Opera Studio, a tour for Chamber Music New Zealand, and Siegrune in Wagner's Die Walkure for the NZSO.

Power ONZM grew up in Hawke's Bay, was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, the universities of Otago and Auckland, Epsom Teachers' College and L'Universita per Stranieri, Perugia. More recently he completed a MMus (Hons) at the University of Waikato.

His first major professional work was with the NZBC Symphony in 1975, followed by an extensive performance career, singing in Norwegian Opera, a freelance career in London and performances at Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, plus New York and San Francisco.

He returned to a New Zealand base in 2000 and has been successful in teaching young singers.

In April 2009 he moved to a post as Lecturer of Vocal Studies at The Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide.

Tickets: Adults $35; family of 2 adults and 2 children $70; tertiary and secondary students $15; children aged 14 and under $10. Visit ticketek.co.nz, or phone 0800 842 538.