Singer's fitting farewell to hometown

Christian Thurston bids Rotorua farewell. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua born and raised opera singer Christian Thurston is bidding us farewell with a special performance this weekend.

Thurston plans on saying kia ora to the Big Apple as he is heading to New York to complete his Masters of Music under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed bass-baritone James Morris at the Manhattan School of Music.

Thurston, the current New Zealand Opera Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist, will be joined by one of the finest heldentenors, Simon O'Neil, as well as Richard Greager, Chelsea Dolman and Madison Nonoa, for the afternoon performance.

Thurston said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Simon [O'Neil] in Rotorua."

Thurston said the calibre of performers was exceptionally high.

"It is going to be a great concert and the audience is going to leave satisfied."

Thurston is a former head boy at John Paul College and continued his education in both in New Zealand and overseas. He holds a PGDip in Performance Voice, BMus in Classical Performance - Voice (Victoria University) and ATCL in Speech & Drama - Distinction (Trinity College, London).

He was placed third in the Lexus Song Quest (2014) and finalist New Zealand Aria (2014).

The details
What: Christian Thurston and guests
Where: Civic Theatre
When: Sunday, 2pm
Tickets: $30, call Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre 0800 111 999