1.00pm - Reviewed by WILLIAM DART
From the first phrases of Simon O'Neill's Luisa Miller aria, the tenor bracingly at ease with Verdi's striding lines, it was obvious we were in for an operatic gala to remember.
Last year, when the Auckland Philharmonia celebrated Puccini, the programme was built around American diva
Angela Brown.
O'Neill was the kingpin this time and a dauntless divo he proved to be, in thrilling voice throughout.
Once again, the carefully chosen music was a mix of the familiar and the less familiar, with a suave Robert Johnson as MC.
Arias from Rigoletto and La Traviata showcased younger singers. Shaun Dixon, with a focus and characterisation I have not heard before from this tenor, perfectly caught the sinister cynicism of the Duke's Parmi veder le legrime. Sarah-Jane Rennie would not have left one heart untouched with Violetta's Addio del passato.
O Cielo, dove sonio, from Aroldo, was a showpiece for Patricia Wright. This is full-on Callas fare, yet Wright navigated its many emotional shifts and vocal challenges with her customary artistry.
Full marks to the soprano for coping with particularly scrappy orchestral contributions - throughout the evening, it became increasingly obvious the instrumental side of the programme could have done with more attention from conductor Marc Taddei.
Grant Dickson's opening aria from Nabucco was disturbingly tremulous but he was more relaxed in O tu, Palermo from I Vespri Siciliani.
Later, the bass' theatrical acumen lent a shivering realism to Banquo's aria from Macbeth.
The great joy of the evening lay in the ensembles. Wright and O'Neill were transcendental in the Act One duet from Otello, with the most tender of singing, framed in some of Verdi's most delicate orchestration.
Earlier, Wright had been the heroine caught between O'Neill and Dickson in the final trio of Ernani, put across with such vividness that for 10 minutes this could well have been a full production.
The finale went for the exotic, with the first temple scene from Aida. Wright's priestess presided gracefully over a strong-voiced band of priests and priestesses, while O'Neill and Dickson were resolute warrior and priest.
Rapturous applause was rewarded by an encore of Libiamo from La Traviata by the whole company, chorus-line style.
Puccini, Verdi ... now it's just a matter of deciding on who the composer is going to be in 2005.
