Renowned Baritone joins faculty for 2015 NZ Opera School
Posted on 18 December 2014
The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation has been the principle sponsor of the annual NZ Opera School since 2012.
Every year, up to 22 students gather in the historic buildings of Wanganui Collegiate with internationally renowned tutors for an intensive two weeks of study and performance, both at the college and in Wanganui’s arts and recreational venues.
Speaking about the Foundation’s decision to support the School, Dame Kiri said “There no substitute for hearing how it all works from those who have performed at the very highest level. For that reason we were delighted to work with the School to secure Dennis O’Neill, a wonderful singing teacher, to add his world-renowned skills to the tuition on offer at the 2014 School. Now we are very excited to assist in bringing Håkan Hagagard to this years’ School. He is a very dear friend and a wonderful baritone whom I have known for nearly 40 years as a performer and a colleague. I was thrilled to perform with him on many occasions. You may remember he played the part of Papageno in the beautiful Bergman Magic Flute - the whole Opera world fell in love with him. His singing has always been of the highest level and now he is passing on all that skill, stage experience and advice to the next generation. I know students and tutors will benefit greatly from his presence in Wanganui.”
The 2015 NZ Opera School will be held in Wanganui from January 5 – 19.
The finale concert ‘Great Opera Moments 2015’ which will be presented by the Foundation will be held on January 17 at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.