SCENA
Blyth Performing Arts Centre (Iona College), 42 Lucknow Road, Havelock North
16/10/2018 - 17/10/2018
Production Details
Project Prima Volta is an annual performance-based music programme, where 30 rising opera stars from local high schools meet weekly to rehearse and grow their skills and confidence. Opera’s loudest champions are amongst these young people, who recognise the beautiful transformation that they and their audiences enjoy when stepping into the world of opera.
Project Prima Volta perform sell-out shows to standing ovations. This year, they have chosen to gift festival audiences a ‘box of chocolates’ style presentation, with a whole array of different delights to share!
Scena literally means ‘a scene in an opera’, and selected scenes from favourite classic operas will be brought to life through stunning singing and inventive direction, led by Jose Aparicio, with guest directors Glen Pickering and PPV-graduate Katherine Winitana; produced by the Prima Volta Charitable Trust.
The Blyth Performing Arts Centre (Iona College)
Tue 16 & Wed 17 Oct 2018
6pm
Adult $35 | Concession $30
High School Student $20
Buy Tickets
All tickets are GENERAL ADMISSION
Adult
Concession = Gold Card Holders, Community Service Card Holders & Full Time Students with ID
High School Student = (selected shows only)
Rating GA
If you have any issues buying your tickets, please contact the festival office on 06 651 2487 between the hours of 9am – 4pm or email the team
Theatre , Opera ,
1hr 30m
A shining performance
Review by Kim Buckley 17th Oct 2018
Scena is literally ‘a scene in an opera’ and tonight’s show is four scenes from four operas led by three directors.
Jose Aparicio directs Il barbiere de Siviliglia (Rossini) Act 1: Scene 5. This is a very lively piece with contemporary stage direction. Very interactive with stunning singing. I would ask for more volume or voice projection from the soloists. The chorus are wonderfully gelled with modernised movement. Any ‘fortnite’ player will get a kick out of this piece.
Aparicio also directs the second piece of the night, Le Nozze Di Figaro (Mozart) Act 1: Introduction and Aria. Caitlin Roberts sings a superb Susanna. On pitch and bold.
Returning student mentor Katherine Winitana, directs the third piece for the evening, La boheme (Puccini) Act 2: Musetta’s entrance. Winitana also plays Musetta. An outstanding piece of work by Winitana, her voice is rich and voluminous, playful and intricate. Divine.
The fourth and final piece for the evening is La Traviata (Verdi) Act 1. Director Glen Pickering has created fabulous chorus work, deliriously happy in party mode with voices to match. Niamh Bentley plays our beloved Violetta and she does so with gentile sass. Her voice is well its way to being something to listen out for.
Project Prima Volta have done it again, delivering a shining performance with plenty for everyone. I love the confidence of these polished performances and every year I believe these performances do actually become bolder and brighter as the performance-based music programme grows. Well done.
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