If you missed Opera in the Strand, here's a taste for next time. Aucklanders heard some of New Zealand’s leading opera singers in full voice.
They sang from the bridges high above this ornately decorated arcade, built a century ago. It was a free concert for New Zealand Music Month, with Strand Arcade playing host to a magical evening of opera on Thursday 30 May 6-9pm.
Learn more about New Zealand Music Month in midtown here.
Photo credit: Samuel Richards
Curated by The NZ Opera School and Te Pae Kōkako - The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS) and brought to the city centre by Auckland Council, the audience heard beautiful harmonies and soaring arias in the midst of this historic architecture.
Accompanied by pianist Francis Cowen, they heard Edward Laurenson Baritone, Olivia Forbes, Jasmine Jessen Soprano, Katherine Winitana Soprano, Ridge Ponini Tenor and Taylor Wallbank Tenor.
Background on the opera school and the TANZOS artists:
Jasmine Jessen, Soprano
Jasmine was recently a finalist in the New Zealand Lockwood aria competition and was awarded the John Bond Award for Most Promising Voice. In 2023 Jasmine performed the titular role in Massenet’s Cendrillon with the NZSM. She has been a member of the Wellington Opera Chorus, performing in Verdi’s La Traviata and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lamermoor. NZOS Alumni 2022, 2024.
Katherine Winitana, Soprano
Katherine was a TANZOS 2023 Artist and Dame Malvina Major Foundation Studio Artist with NZ Opera for 2021. In 2016 she was the inaugural recipient of the Vodafone and Recorded Music New Zealand scholarship award and performed a song she composed to commemorate the ANZAC Centenary at the 2015 Waiata Māori Music Awards. Katherine made her debut with the NZSO in The Magic Flute with Festival Opera in 2023. NZOS Alumni 2020-2023.
Ridge Ponini, Tenor
Proud Cook Island tenor, Ridge was named the Most Promising Singer and received the Judges Choice Award in the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Aria award. In 2021 Ridge was awarded the Enari Iosefa Opera Award from Creative New Zealand. Ridge was part of New Zealand Operas schools tour cast that performed Sleeping Beauty for over 10,000 tamariki in 2023. NZOS Alumni 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024.
Taylor Wallbank, Tenor
Taylor debuted at 18 as Le Remendado in Festival Opera’s Production of Carmen in 2016. He placed 1st in the Dame Malvina Major Waikato Aria Competition in 2022, 1st place in the South Auckland Competition Recital/Aria, 2023, 1st place in The Ronald Dellow Vocal Recital, 2023. Taylor is a part of the Te Pae Kōkako Aotearoa New Zealand Studio Artist programme and was also a member of the New Zealand Opera Studio. NZOS Alumni 2023.
Francis Cowan, Pianist
Francis Cowan was appointed as full time Head of Collaborative Piano at the University of Waikato in 2015. He enjoys a busy schedule of coaching and accompaniment for voice and instrumental students and is a regular pianist and organist for the New Zealand Opera School.
New Zealand Opera School
Celebrating 30 years in 2024, the New Zealand Opera School delivers New Zealand’s premier annual residential training course for aspiring opera singers. Many alumni are now performing in opera houses around the world and continuing their studies with programmes like Te Pae Kōkako - The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS).
Proudly supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.
Photo credit: Samuel Richards
