07/08/2024
Tauranga Opera Forum Trust
Concert Review
By Marion Chandler – a member of the audience
An enthusiastic group of 90 attended the Tauranga Opera Forum Trust Scholarship Concert on Sunday 4th August at St Peter’s Church in the City, and were treated to two hours of superb opera singing.
The first half was performed by the three TOFT scholarship winners for 2024, followed by guest artists Zhou Nan and Lu Xuan from China.
Guo Zhou Han, a Student of Zhou Nan also graciously performed.
Leon Gray was the accompanist for all the singers. He is much appreciated for his talent as a highly qualified Tauranga pianist, conductor, writer and music educator. Leon gives his time generously to the performers for practices, and offers assistance for their musical journey.
The three young TOFT Scholarship winners Ansh Dhot, Yanni Corsame and Ashana Watene each sang three songs of their choice.
Increased confidence, poise and the maturity of voice was evidence of the professional tutoring they have undertaken.
They all had recently taken part in the Tauranga Boys and Girls Colleges' production of “We Will Rock you”, demonstrating the diversity of their voices.
Ansh's choice of “I hate Music” from the song cycle by Leonard Bernstein was indeed an antithesis. She certainly loves music and aspires to continue this art form, and to acquire new skills for her future relationship with music. Her chosen song was well executed and her passion shone through her performance.
Yanni loves performing and expressing herself through song, while "sharing her passion for music with others”. One of Yanni’s chosen song was “O Mio Babbino Caro” from the popular comic opera "Gianni Schicchi" by Giocomo Puccini. Yanni projected her voice well demonstrating her wide singing range.
Ashana sang so beautifully. She hopes to attain professional level voice and wishes to “perform to give people enjoyment”. One of her songs was the last song from Vincenzo Bellini’s Composizioni da Camera.
In the second half of the concert we were privileged to enjoy guest appearances by Zhou Nan, whose singing qualifications were awarded from his studies at universities in Beijing and Bath University (UK), and Lu Xuan, who is a professional opera singer in Beijing. Together they performed a beautiful duet from La Traviata. In her midnight blue sequinned gown Lu Xuan certainly enthralled the audience. Her powerful voice projected well in the Church venue. Zhou Nan sang “The Toreador” from the opera “Carmen”; an enthusiastic and exciting rendition, demonstrating his baritone voice to perfection. The concert finished with Lu Xuan singing the ever popular classic “Meine Lippen, sie kussen so heib” from the pen of Franz Lehar.
A plethora of music by renowned opera composers Richard Wagner, Georges Bizet, Guiseppe Verdi, Franz Lehar and Guiseppe Giordani was an extensive selection and quite special.
Opera singing is a profession that is very popular around the world. New Zealand has produced renowned international stars; the operatic careers of Dame Malvina Major and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa have delighted audiences around the world for many years.
It is significant that Opera dates back to the late 16th century; it is a cultural profession that has endured time, generations and multiple changes in society and the world of music. Opera was once the echelon of high society in Europe.
The science of voice is intricate. Not everyone has the capability to pursue an operatic career. Tauranga Opera Forum Trust is a small group of dedicated people, under the Chairmanship of founder John Hodgson, who nurture, encourage and support local young classical singing students through the Scholarship Programme.
Financial support for this is through private donors and sponsors.
We thank Bureta Pharmacy, Pub Charity, TCC Creative Communities, Western Bay Community Event Fund, Wright Family Trust and Lion Foundation for their ongoing support.
It is greatly valued and appreciated.
Group photo below show from left to right - Guo Zhou Han, Lu Xuan, TOFT Chairman John Hodgson, Zhou Nan and our three Scholarship winners, Yanni Corsame, Ansh Dhot and Ashana Watene.
