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RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Mixing opera and politics
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Poster for the Wellington Opera production of Verdi's "A Masked Ball". Photo: Wellington Opera Verdi had to jump through a lot of hoops to stage his opera, "A Masked Ball". The idea seemed operatic enough. The intrigue surrounding the assassination of the 18th-century monarch King Gustavo III of Sweden, but the 19th-century censors had other ideas. To have someone shooting a royal just wouldn't do. They forced Verdi to set the opera in Boston in the USA, where there were no kings or queens to assassinate. Next month, Wellington Opera will stage the original uncensored version of "A Masked Ball" with Jared Holt playing King Gustavo and soprano Madeleine Pierard taking on the lead female role, Amelia. Pierard and conductor Brian Castles-Onion spoke to RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump ahead of a three-performance season at the Wellington Opera House starting on 6 August. It's still a rarely staged opera, not because of its politics, but because it's long. Not Wagner long, but still taking three acts with two intervals. Australian conductor, Brian Castles-Onion Photo: Wellington Opera Castles-Onion, however, thinks it's one of Verdi's best. And he thinks Pierard is one of the best-qualified sopranos to take on the lead role of Amelia; a married woman who has fallen for King Gustavo who, unfortunately for her, is not the man she's married to. It's the second year in a row that Pierard and Castles-Onion have featured in Wellington Opera Company productions. Last year Pierard played the title role in Tosca, while Castles-Onion directed Orchestra Wellington in the pit. The company has established a reputation for high-quality productions made without any support from the Government arts funding body, Creative New Zealand. Castles-Onion says he loves the vibe at Wellington Opera. The Australian-based maestro certainly loves conducting opera, with hundreds of performances to his name. He prefers the orchestra pit to the concert hall podium because he loves the human voice. Madeleine Pierard Photo: Robert Cato Pierard prefers the stage to the concert hall because of her love of acting. For her, the challenge as a singer who is a good actor is to keep the body from getting in the way of her singing - given the acting and the music come from the same place. A good singer doesn't have to contort their body to get the message across, she says. Let the voice flow and the music will bring out the drama.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Lit-up signs on derelict Reading Cinemas fuel speculation of reopening
Reading Cinemas. Photo: Maxime Vasuta The lights are on but nobody's home? Lit up signs on the derelict Reading Cinemas building in central Wellington has caused speculation on when it might reopen. The cinemas complex on Courtenay Place had sat unused since it was closed due to earthquake risks in 2019. In January it was announced that Primeproperty Group bought the site after a $32 million council deal spearheaded by Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau to buy land underneath the building fell through. In recent weeks, Wellingtonians had noticed that the complex's large signs had been lit up, with many speculating online whether development was around the corner. RNZ approached Primeproperty group and in a statement, it said that it had noticed "a little bit of chatter online about Reading having its lights on overnight". Photo: Maxime Vasuta The company said that it wasn't a sign of an imminent reopening. "We are getting the right people through the venue to commence architectural and design work. "Unfortunately, they left the lights on, which caused a little stir." The statement said that Primeproperty Group was working hard to strengthen the building over the coming months and was working closely with Reading Cinemas to create a "new version of the venue that will excite and entice Wellingtonians". "These things take time and a little more effort than turning the lights back on!" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Update on Oz with Brad Foster: The Crowded House battle
Australian radio station Triple J has compiled a list of 100 Hottest Aussie Songs as voted by the public. Crowded House's 'Don't Dream It's Over' came in at number 5. When will Australians understand Crowded House is a New Zealand band? Crowded House Photo: supplied
