OPERA — MINI BUS STYLE

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 56, 16 July 1974, Page 3

OPERA — MINI BUS STYLE

Grand opera — scaled down to fit into a mini-bus and a small stage — is coming to Taupo. The New Opera Quartet is to give a concert at the Taupo Intermediate today and perform at Tauponui-a-Tia College tomorrow night. The group's visit has been organised under the auspices of thc Community Arts Service comniittee of Taupo. The quartet consists of John Bates (bass). Barbara Green (mezzo). Fay Hadden (soprano) and Keith Lewis (tenor). With their musical-direc-tor and accompanist, Bruce Greenfield, the performers are touring New Zealand presenting a programme specifically designed to create instant. intithate opera. Their programme covers highpoints in opera over the past 2(X) years with

items drawn from the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Bizet, Johann Strauss, Gershwin and Gilbert and Sullivan. Each aria, duet, trio or quartet is presented with the essence of the moment it occupies in the drama of the opera's story intact. Minimal properties, costumes, make-up and scenery are tised to create the right dramatic atrnosphere and then it is up to the music and the voices to take over. The voices in the quartet are among the finest young voices to be heard in New Zealand. Each member has had considerable experience for his or her age in solo singing either with the New Zealand Opera Company, the New Zealand MusicTheatre Ensemble or as solo artists with the NZBC and in competitions. Bruce Greenfield is married to well-known composer and Professor of Music at Victoria University, Jenny McLeod. He has worked, as repititeur to the New Zealand Opera Company and as musical director for the New Zealand Ballet Company and Wellington's Downstage Theatre. The concept of opera presented in this way is mainly his and he feels that this will give some of the smaller centres in New Zealand a chance to hear really fine voices without the assistance of microphones and electronic gimmicks singing some of the greatest and most popular music ever vvritten. The New Opera Quartet is touring for the Music Federation of New Zealand and the Queen Elizabeth 1! Arts Council. The C.A.S. committec of Taupo is pleased to be again associated with these organisations in what should be a further outstanding musical event.