Verdi And Smetana By Opera Company

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 17

Verdi And Smetana By Opera Company

Sponsorship by Christchurch business firms and other organisations totalling £2500 had ensured that the coming opera season in the city, to be held by the New Zealand Opera Company, would be the biggest yet, said Mr J. Collins, chairman of the Christchurch executive of the company yesterday. He said that his branch would be sponsoring two nights of the season.

The opera season will open in the Theatre Royal on April 27 with Verdi's “Rigoletto,” and will be followed by “The Bartered Bride,” by Smetana. It will cover 10 performances, the most to have been presented in Christchurch.

The firms and organisations in Christchurch which are sponsoring the opera include New Zealand Breweries, the “Christchurch Star,” Dominion Motors, 1.C.1. and Shell.

The generosity of big business organisations throughout New Zealand had made possible the rapid development of the New Zealand Opera Company, said Mr Collins. This was a company of which New Zealand could be proud and was recognised outside the country for the high artistic level of its productions.

The coming opera season throughout New Zealand will cost more than £lO,OOO and the operas will be presented in at least 15 different centres.

Both ‘“Rigoletto” and "The Bartered Bride” will be presented on a large scale. The highlight of this season’s opera is the bringing to New Zealand of Mr Stephan Beinl, the wellknown Viennese producer. Mr Beinl has just completed the production of “Macbeth” at the Adelaide Festival.