Kiri a ‘sell-out’ in Sydney

Press, 19 August 1978, Page 3

Kiri a ‘sell-out’ in Sydney

NZPA Sydney Kiri Te Kanawa’s first performance as Violetta in Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” is a complete sell-out at the Sydney Opera House. A spokesman for the Australian Opera Company said that there was a waiting list for each of the nine performances of “La Traviata,” which has its gala opening on Monday night. The season, which will finish on September 16, includes a special extra performance on September 10 to cope with the strong demand for tickets from New Zealanders making the trip to see Miss Te Kanawa and her fellow New Zealander, Heather Begg. Miss Begg, a mezzo soprano, will play the role of Flora, a close friend of Vio-

letta and the hostess of a party given in the second act. The opera will be sung in Italian. Because it was the first time Miss Te Kanawa had appeared in the role there was world-wide interest in her performance, the opera company spokesman said. Air New Zealand will fly nearly 1000 New Zealanders to Sydney for the September 10 performance — the biggest group it has handled apart from All Black supporters. This is the second season in which Miss Te Kanawa has appeared as a guest artist with the Australian opera. Last year she appeared in three performances of “La Boheme” and three performances of “Simon Boecanegra.”