Top New Zealand singers perform a selection of opera highlights at the Auckland Opera Studio's annual Gala Concert for 2022.
This year's concert features sopranos Eliza Boom, Amelia Berry and Natasha Te Rupe Wilson, mezzo Christina Orjis, tenor Oliver Sewell, baritones James Ioelu and Samson Setu and bass Paul Whelan.
The pianist is Somi Kim.
The Auckland Opera Studio led by Frances Wilson offers singing and performance coaching to opera singers throughout their career, providing support and development opportunities to professional and promising singers. They were especially important to many of our singers with international careers who returned home during the periods of lockdown when opera stages around the world closed and careers were effectively on hold.
Eliza Boom, Amelia Berry, Natasha Wilson, Somi Kim, Christina Orjis Photo: Auckland Opera Studio
VERDI: Surta è la notte, from Ernani
Eliza Boom Photo: Nick Rutter
Soprano Eliza Boom as Elvira
VERDI: Pari siamo, from Rigoletto
Somi Kim, Samson Setu Photo: Auckland Opera Studio
Baritone Samson Setu as Rigoletto
BRITTEN: Claggart's Aria, from Billy Budd
Paul Whelan Photo: supplied
Bass Paul Whelan as Claggart
STRAVINSKY: No Word from Tom, from The Rake's Progress
Natasha Te Rupe Wilson Photo: Supplied
Soprano Natasha Te Rupe Wilson as Anne
PUCCINI: Un bel dì, from Madama Butterfly
Eliza Boom performing during the Lexus Song Quest Photo: via NZSO
Soprano Eliza Boom as Cio Cio San
DONIZETTI: Scenes from Lucia di Lammermoor
Amelia Berry, Oliver Sewell Photo: Auckland Opera Studio
Soprano Amelia Berry as Lucia, tenor Oliver Sewell as Edgardo, baritone James Ioelu as Enrico, and bass Paul Whelan as Raimondo
STRAUSS: Di rigori amato, from Der Rosenkavalier
Tenor Oliver Sewell Photo: Emma Brittenden | Photography
Tenor Oliver Sewell as the nameless Italian tenor.
STRAUSS: Excerpts, from Der Rosenkavalier
Christina Orjis Photo: supplied
Mezzo Christina Orjis as Octavian, soprano Natasha Te Rupe Wilson as Sophie, and soprano Eliza Boom as the Marschallin.
WAGNER: O du, mein holder Abendstern (Song of the Evening Star), from Tannhäuser
Somi Kim, Samson Setu Photo: Auckland Opera Studio
Baritone Samson Setu as Wolfram.
KORNGOLD: Marietta's Lied, from Die Tote Stadt
Eliza Boom Photo: Tracey Morris
Soprano Eliza Boom as Marietta.
WAGNER: Abendlich Strahlt der Sonne Auge, from Das Rheingold
Paul Whelan, bass-baritone Photo: Supplied
Bass Paul Whelan as Wotan.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Snow Maiden's Aria, from The Snow Maiden
Natasha Te Rupe Wilson Photo: Supplied
Soprano Natasha Te Rupe Wilson as the Snow Maiden.
PONCHIELLI: Si, morir ella dè, from La Gioconda
James Ioelu Photo: Supplied
Baritone James Ioelu as Alvise.
MOZART: Sextet, from Don Giovanni
Paul Whelan, James Ioelu, Natash Wilson, Eliza Boom, Amelia Berry and Oliver Sewell perform the sextet from Mozart's Don Giovanni. Photo: Auckland Opera Studio
Featuring Eliza Bloom, Amelia Berry, Natasha Te Rupe Wilson (sopranos), Oliver Sewell (tenor), James Ioelu (baritone), Paul Whelan (bass)
BOBERG arr Wiremu: Whakaaria mai
Curtain call for all singers at the Auckland Opera Studio Gala Concert 2022 Photo: Auckland Opera Studio
Performed as an encore by the complete company: Eliza Bloom, Amelia Berry, Natasha Te Rupe Wilson (sopranos), Christina Orjis (mezzo), Oliver Sewell (tenor), James Ioelu, Samson Setu (baritones), Paul Whelan (bass).
Recorded by RNZ Concert
Producer: Tim Dodd
Sound Engineer: Rangi Powick
