performances
For young singers nothing can compensate for the experience of appearing on stage in a live performance. So that our young singers can have this experience, and to complement the more popular productions of New Zealand’s professional opera company, Auckland Opera Studio aims to present at least one significant work every one or two years by choosing works of importance that might otherwise not be performed here.
Recital Boys Night Out With Rosie
On Wednesday 7th December The Auckland Opera Studio presents the final recital of the year: "Boys Night Out with Rosie", a mixed recital with Amitai Pati, Stephen Diaz and Moses MacKay, accompanied by the brilliantly indomitable Rosemary Barnes. The recital will be preceeded by Christmas Drinks for the festive season. (programme coming soon)
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24 July 2011 - La Sonnambula, Bellini
La Sonnambula was the first full length opera performed at the new Auckland Opera Studio venue at 24 St Benedict's Street in Newton Auckland.
The rising young opera stars included Marlena Devoe, Pene Pati and James Ioelu, with Italian singer Lilia Carpinelli, supported by the most talented of young singers in Auckland at present.
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26 June 2011 - Recital and High Tea
The first concert in the new premises at St Benedicts Street was a huge success. The Auckland Opera Studio is situated on the second level of this wonderful old former Masonic Lodge; very light, very elegant and a great space for performance as well as teaching.
The first concert in these premises was a huge success. Held on Sunday 26th June at 3pm, it featured James Ioelu, just back for the holidays from Manhatten School of Music.
We were also treated to the amazing young Counter-Tenor voice of Stephen Diaz and the wonderful rich tenor voice of Pene Pati, who came to the rescue of wonderful young Soprano Amelia Berry, still recovering from a cold and so not able to perfom her solos.
A delicious High-Tea was served after the recital in the elegant surroundings of the new venue, brilliantly transformed by the interior design skills of Stephen Fitzgerald.
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Italian Duo - A Little Bit of Italy
On Sunday the 29th of May, The Auckland Opera Studio presented the brilliant Italian Soprano Lilia Carpinelli and her equally brilliant pianist husband Matteo Napoli performing a programme of Italian Music.
The concert was held in the beautiful home of Gary and Dot Paykel. The Auckland Opera Studio was honored and delighted to accept the Paykel offer of their home for the evening, and an exceptional Steinway Grand Piano was loaned by philanthropist Hayden Staples.
Matteo performed the virtuoso solo piece; Listz variations on Verdi’s Rigoletto on this Piano, as well as accompanying his wife Lilia for the rest of the programme. The concert was followed by an Italian dinner, creating a "little bit of Italy" for the evening.
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The farewell to Mollies concert presented by Auckland Opera Studio, featured New Zealand mezzo soprano Anna Pierard and Spanish husband José Aparicio. José, an accomplished conductor, flautist and tenor met Anna at the Guildhall School of Music and following the birth of their daughter the couple settled in Anna's home town of Napier in 2009.
Their entertaining programme included solos and duets in the Zarzuela or Spanish opera style and a beautiful flute solo by José.
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11 September 2010, Poulenc Opera - La Voix Humaine
An inspired evening of music by Poulenc with the Auckland Opera Studio and Auckland Chamber Orchestra.
"During my years in New York I was privileged to work with many wonderful young talents. One of my especially gifted students was Camille Zamora, who was admitted to the prestigious Julliard Opera School at the same time as our well loved Simon O'Neill.
Her combination of intellectuality, emotional depths and beautiful voice made her the perfect candidate for a performance of this remarkable work. Of course her ability to speak perfect French put the 'icing on the cake', so to speak." Frances Wilson, Artistic Director.
view the rehearsal video download the programme
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25 July 2010, Recital - Die Schwestern
Auckland Opera Studio presented a recital featuring Madeleine Pierard, soprano and sister Anna Pierard, mezzo soprano accompanied by pianist and vocal coach David Harper.
download programme
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18 July 2010, Opera - La Clemenza di Tito
Auckland Opera Studio presented Mozart's final opera at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Peter Scholes.
"Madeleine Pierard's Vitellia, the villainess of the piece, came up with an inexhaustible catalogue of expressions of rage and contrition during (Raymond) Hawthorne's running commentaries. And, from her first aria, she flourished the coloratura we had been expecting...
Kristen Darragh, in a trouser role, brought the manipulated Sesto to life, particularly in the dramatic pointing and easy musicianship of her recitative. There were similar strengths to be heard with Andrew Glover's likeable Tito. Amelia Berry delivered a confidently sung Annio while Marlena Devoe's Servilia was the epitome of dulcet-toned grace. James Ioelu, as Publio, achieved an almost Verdian thrust in his Tardi s'avvede." - William Dart, NZ Herald
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27 June 2010, Recital - A Midwinter Concert
The Midwinter Concert featured Kristen Darragh and Andrew Glover accompanied by Rosemary Barnes.
Mezzo soprano Kristen Darragh is one of New Zealand's most exciting upcoming operatic talents, while Andrew Glover has earned the title, "a formidable tenor" after his performance in the Opera Holland Park 2010 season of Carmen.
Rosemary Barnes, awarded an MNZM for services to music in the 2000 Queens Birthday Honours, was one of London's most sought after accompanists and vocal coaches for 25 years. download the programme
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30 May 2010 - James Ioelu Benefit Concert
"It's a beautiful, beautiful voice. He's got the physique needed. You have to be tall, strong and handsome looking." says Frances Wilson, who's mentored James for the last five years.
Being accepted to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York comes at a hefty price - $75,000 for each year of the four years he's at the school. The Benefit Concert was held to help raise funds for the school fees.
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2 May 2010, Recital - The Italian Songbook
The recital held at Mollies on May 2010 featured Morag Atchison and Kate Spence with accompanist Rosemary Barnes.
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28 March 2010, Recital - Love and Loss
The 'Love and Loss' recital was held at Mollies Hotel in March 2010 and featured husband and wife duo Anna Pierard and Jose Aparicio, accompanied by David Harper.
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10 August 2009 - Recital at Mollies
The August recital held at Mollies Hotel featured Anna Leese and Kristen Darragh with piano accompanist Kirsten Simpson.
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Aivale Cole won the 2009 Lexus Song Quest, the most prestigious song quest in the southern hemisphere. Before she decided to focus on opera Availe had a great reputation singing Jazz. She is always keen to add a jazz number or two in her concerts to show her versatility.
"Make no mistake. Cole is an accomplished singer (and) also has the ability to project a warm personality. Lots of Opera singers tend to sing Jazz in an operatic style, and there’s nothing worse. Not here, however, with Cole really swingin’ in the more upbeat numbers like Lewis and Hamilton’s 'How High the Moon', soulful and bluesy in the slower, like Arthur Hamilton’s 'Cry Me a River'.” - The West Australian, William Yeoman
"Born in New Zealand of Samoan origin, Cole has a magnificent instrument that is seamless from top to bottom, free of vibrato and with a rich tone that is most captivating." - Michael Sinclair
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4 June 2009, Recital - Liederabend
Liederabend was performed at the Auckland Concert Chamber featuring Aivale Cole, soprano and Simon O'Neill, tenor with pianist Terence Dennis.
"Aivale Cole, perfectly at home in the idyllic dreamscapes of Korngold's Opus 22 Lieder, showed us why she won April's Lexus Song Quest... It is difficult not to succumb to the warmth of this soprano's voice. Cole wended through Strauss's fearsome lines with utter confidence, effortlessly catching the rippling smiles in September..."
"Encores were operatic and O'Neill was at his storming best in two extracts from Wagner's Die Walkure. After a thrilling solo turn, he was joined by Cole in the great duet of sibling love that ends the opera's first act." William Dart, NZ Herald.
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3 May 2009, Recital - Simple Gifts
"Simple Gifts" featured Morag Atchison, one of New Zealand's leading young sopranos accompanied by pianist Richard Liu.
Richard, a Guildhall graduate, has performed within New Zealand and abroad collaborating with singers, instrumentalists, choirs and orchestras.
4 Oct 2008, Recital - A Latin Temperament
"A Latin Temperament" was held at Mollies Hotel and featured Anna Pierard and Jose Aparicio with paino accompaniment by David Harper.
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June 2008 - A Celebration Concert of Sacred Music
A collaboration of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Auckland Opera Studio and St Patrick's Cathedral, featured two nights of sacred music as a fund raiser for the Cathedral.
Artists Angela Brown and Simon O'Neill, both top world performers, were supported by five Auckland Opera Studio recipients; Morag Atchison, Kate Spence, James Ioelu, Claire Filer and Cameron Barclay.
“Simon's voice just gets better and better... It seems to pour out of him. And what an incredible voice Angela Brown has. Rich and golden from the lowest to the highest notes, no matter what she sings, she has the power to make it all sound glorious. James Ioelu sang Raphael’s opening recitative with sensitive solemnity...” - Rod Bliss, Auckland Opera News.
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December 2007 - Opera - Julius Caesar, G F Handel
Julius Caesar featured Anna Leese as Cleopatra, James Ioelu as Caesar, Malcolm Edie as Tolomeo, Zan McKendrie-Wright as Sesto and Kate Spence as Cornelia. It was directed and narrated by Raymond Hawthorne and conducted by Ross Pople (Music Director, London Festival Orchestra) with the AOS Orchestra.
“Auckland has yet to become accustomed to the singular joys of Baroque Opera, and Auckland Opera Studio’s presentation of Handel’s Julius Caesar gave us a taste of what we are missing... A cast of five singers and two actors held us engrossed for two hours. A small on-stage band under Ross Pople, played with a snap and vitality that Handel himself would have appreciated... Raymond Hawthorne has produced a modest masterpiece that catches the raw, beating heart of Handel’s opera.“ William Dart, The Herald
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April 2006 - The Seven Deadly Sins & String Quartet No. 2 Opus 10
The Seven Deadly Sins by Kurt Weill and String Quartet No. 2 Opus 10 by Arnold Schoenberg was presented together as Beyond the Box, it was performed at the Mercury Theatre with singers Andrea Creighton, Jack Bourke, Phillip Rhodes, Brendan Casey and James Ioelu.
"In 2004, it was Idomeneo that you missed at your peril; this year it is Beyond the Box..." William Dart, The Herald.
"A genre-extending challenge... an operatic, choreographed double bill that incorporates poems by Stefan George... the first opera, sung ballet that the Mercury Theatre has seen for ten years. Will anyone dare not to be there?" - Rod Bliss, NZ Listener.
July 2004 - Opera - Idomeneo, W A Mozart
"The most significant opera of the year was Frances Wilson’s Auckland Opera Studio performing Mozart’s Idomeneo." Metro Magazine.
It was the first time Idomeneo, first of Mozart’s operatic masterpieces, had been presented in New Zealand. The opera, featuring Simon O’Neil, Georgina Hawes, Anna Leese, Sarah-Jane Rennie, Jack Bourke, Shaun Dixon and Daniel Keeling, played to full houses in the Auckland Town Hall. Patrice Wilson was the outstandingly artistic and theatrically thrilling director of this great Mozart Masterpiece.
download the programme
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2003, Recital - Art Gallery Concert
Frances Wilson presented a concert at the Auckland Art Gallery featuring Angela Brown and Simon O'Neill.
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