Nelson's biggest night out ever

Excitement is building as Nelson gears up for its biggest ever entertainment event, Sealord Opera in the Park with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Friends, at Trafalgar Park on February 16.

Technical Director Antony Hodgson says Trafalgar Park will be transformed for the tenth anniversary of Sealord Opera in the Park.

³We are bringing down the huge stage that is used at Auckland¹s major outdoor events, we have hanging stacks of speakers that will deliver quality sound to every corner of the park, a 40 square metre LED super screen for close-ups of the soloists and orchestra from 12 camera positions and a massive rig of intelligent lighting above the stage.² 

Hodgson says his crew of up to 50 techs will be at the park from the preceding Monday as they set up the stage, screen and seating. This crew will be augmented on the night with caterers, ushers, ticket and programme sellers, sound and lighting technicians as well as the orchestra and singers.

Musical Director Pete Rainey says the line up featuring Dame Kiri, tenor Simon O¹Neill, bass Jonathan Lemalu and mezzo Helen Medlyn, backed by the Vector Wellington Orchestra conducted by Marc Taddei is causing a stir in opera circles

³It is tremendously exciting to have a couple of the operatic Œyoung guns¹ who are doing so well in the international arena performing alongside New Zealand¹s most revered ever international star.²

And he says there have been additions since the programme was first announced: ³There is a thrilling karanga to open the programme with Richard Nunns and other top exponents of Maori instruments and vocals, and we have a 16 member chorus from Auckland¹s renowned Opera Factory,² he said. ³We are expecting the crowd of 15000 to arrive early so we have a great range of local talent to entertain from the Celtic group Cairde to rising stars the Nancies.²

City Council Festival Director Annabel Norman says the scale of organisation is huge: ³Dame Kiri is a star on the world stage, which means the opera this year is an international-scale event with all the organisational detail that involves.²

Tickets are selling well from the picnickers at $15 to gold patrons at $120. Sealord Opera in the Park is presented by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for residents and an attraction for visitors.

More information at www.KiriInNelson.co.nz