Dear Rotary members and partners,
I am writing to you about a new production of Don Giovanni in Wellington by Wellington Opera. As Chairperson of the new Wellington Opera Trust, I can see that the Company’s first production is going to be a memorable musical event. Don Giovanni is widely regarded as Mozart's finest opera, some say the finest opera ever written.
Many of you will remember the enjoyable Singers to Listen For concerts which the Rotary Club of Wellington has hosted in St Andrews on the Terrace. Since 2015 we have brought together New Zealand’s leading young singers to help develop their talent and raise funds.
The aspirations we have had for them are now being realised through the casting for Wellington Opera's production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. I would like to personally invite you to join us to enjoy the singers with Orchestra Wellington at the Opera House, 17 - 24 April 2021.
Wellington audiences are in for a real treat, with a dynamic New Zealand cast featuring many principals back in New Zealand on pause from their careers around the world. They include Christian Thurston (Don Giovanni) from Minnesota Opera, James Ioelu (Leporello) from London, Oliver Sewell (Don Ottavio) from New York, Natasha Wilson (Zerlina) back from Pittsburg Opera, and Paul Whelan (Commendatore) also from New York. Joel Amosa (Massetto) is a recent Lexus Song Quest winner, Amelia Berry (Donna Anna), one of our finest resident sopranos and the outstanding Amanda Atlas (Donna Elvira) with a string of international successes behind her.
Singers Natasha Wilson, Oliver Sewell and James Ioelu are sponsored by the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, and the major donor to the season is the Margaret Doucas Trust.
The production is directed by Sara Brodie, with designer Meg Rollandi, and Matthew Ross as Music Director, with the Wellington Opera Chorus and Orchestra Wellington.This is a bold yet timeless production offering food for thought for our times whilst embracing the theatricality of old.Don’t miss it… with only four shows in April 2021, buy your tickets now!
Tickets are available at https://www.wellingtonopera.nz
I look forward to seeing you at the opera.
Kind regards,
Dame Kerry Prendergast
Chair, Wellington Opera Trust
Chair, Wellington Opera Trust