State of the Arts
Lexus winner
Benson Wilson, 25, of Auckland has been named Lexus Song Quest winner. Runner-up was Auckland’s Tenor Filipe Manu, and in third place was Hamilton soprano Madison Nonoa. Auckland Bass Baritone Tavis Gravatt took fourth place. The $15,000 Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation scholarship ‘‘for the singer who shows the most promise’’ went to Madison Nonoa. The four finalists each performed three pieces in front of a live audience – one accompanied by pianist Terence Dennis, and two arias alongside the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Acclaimed soprano and International Lexus Song Quest judge Yvonne Kenny said she was impressed by all four ‘‘outstanding’’ finalists and that NZ could be ‘‘proud that the fine tradition of beautiful voices and refined singing continues’’.
Waters imagines
Award-winning Australian actor and singer John Waters takes to the stage with accompanist Bill Risby to perform Lennon: Through A Glass Onion – part spoken word, part concert – in a celebration of one of the most distinctive voices of his generation, John Lennon. The stage show comes to The Civic in Auckland for six performances from August 10. The production created by Waters with Stewart D’Arrietta and premiered in 1992 at The Tilbury in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. It was an instant hit. In the years that followed, Waters and D’Arrietta booked Sydney Opera House and a three-month engagement in London’s West End. Waters said premiering the show in New York as an emotional experience. ‘‘We were overwhelmed, blessed really, to have the support of Yoko Ono and the Lennon Estate. It’s been fantastic the response the show is receiving.’’
Never too late
Auckland War Memorial Museum’s annual LATE programme returns for its ninth season with another series of curated evening events. From August to November, the Museum, in partnership with Metro, will host four smart talks featuring special guests, live performances, food, drinks and special late-night exhibition openings. Speakers include award-winning poet Courtney Sina Meredith, cartoonist Toby Morris and Dame Diane Robertson of the City Mission, and Lorde’s former manager Scott Maclachlan.The first programme on August 9, He Mana, He Wahine, will feature vignettes from Okareka Theatre Company’s Mana Wahine.
Hey Joe & Caspar
Joe & Caspar Hit The Road USA Live is coming to New Zealand for a one-stop show at the ASB Centre in Auckland on November 10. The visit to New Zealand precedes the release of their second feature-length film, Joe & Caspar Hit The Road USA which sees the pair on a new, bigger and braver road trip across America. In the film, Joe and Caspar compete against each other in a series of pranks, competitions, forfeits and challenges to see who will become the ultimate all-American winner. Joe Sugg says: ‘‘I’m so excited to be doing this all again. I’ve felt many emotions on this trip – you’ll have to watch to find out why.’’ Joe & Caspar Hit The Road USA is made by the production team behind BBC Worldwide’s Top Gear special commissions.