The Proms not just for Poms
Last Night of theProms ReviewedbyMalcolmCox
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Both performances of Last Night of the Proms, staged at Waiapu Cathedral by the Napier Civic Choir and Hawke’s Bay orchestras, were filled almost to capacity theweekend before last.
The very young through to the notso-young were attracted to the spirit of this musical celebration that has becomeaBritish tradition at the Royal Albert Hall since 1895.
Each half opened with a rousing orchestral overture from lesserknownoperas, the first Otto Nicolai’s The Merry Wives ofWindsor and the second Rossini’s The ThievingMagpie, showcasing the dramatic power and colour of the full orchestra.
Italian opera composers featured strongly in the programme, which provided a platform to demonstrate howfar Project Prima Volta graduates Samuel McKeever and KatherineWinitana havecomesince pursuing music studies in Wellington and Waikato respectively.
McKeever’s rich bass-baritone voice and piercing eyes perfectly suited the threatening tones of Verdi’s character Renato (whomurdersKing Gustavo) and Puccini’s villain Scarpia from the opera Tosca.
Winitana’sdramatic soprano voice glided effortlessly through
Charpentier’s gentle aria declaring her love in the opera Louise. She then brought a powerful passion to her character’s famous aria fromAct I of Puccini’s The Swallow.
Together the twocombined dramatically in a duet from Verdi’s
Il Trovatore.
Surely these young singers have fine futures to look forward to.
Conductor Jose´ Aparicio added a Hispanic spin to the afternoon’s proceedings by referring to Magellan’s exploration of the Pacific Ocean. However, the afternoon ended in suitably British flavour with the popular Proms sing-along classics
RuleBritannia, Land of Hope& Glory, Jerusalem and God Save the Queen.
Asterling performance from all, thiswas ashowthat the audience, the choir and orchestra revelled in and enjoyed thoroughly.
Sterling performance revelled in and enjoyed thoroughly