Te Wiata Returns

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 12

Te Wiata Returns

Inia Te Wiata, who was last in Christchurch to play Porgy in Gershwin's opera “Porgy and Bess” at the 1965 Pan Pacific Arts Festival, will be back twice next month—first for a recital in conjunction with the Royal Christchurch Musical Society, and later with the New Zealand Opera Company in Mozart’s “Il Seraglio.” Maurice Till will be his accompanist at the recital, in the Civic Theatre on September 12, and his programme will include arias from “The Barber of Seville,’’ “Don Giovanni," “The Magic Flute,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Tannhauser,” and other operas, as well as light songs, Maori songs, and Negro spirituals. During his rest period the

choir of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society will take the stage to sing, unaccompanied, “The Peaceable Kingdom,” by the American composer, Randall Thompson. This work made a great impression when it was first performed by the society at a concert in June, and there have been many requests for a repeat performance.

In the Mozart opera, Te Wiata will be joined by several other well-known New Zealand opera singers—Elizabeth Hellawell, Emily Mair, Grant Dickson, and George Metcalfe, John Thompson is the producer, Russell Channel the musical director, and Raymond Boyce the set designer. The opera will be in Christchurch from September 24 to September 28.