09 February 2021 - 0 Comments
New Zealand’s most accomplished performers, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa protege Ipu Laga’aia, tenor Chris McRae, musical theatre stars Sophie Morris and Rutene Spooner, and music legend Laughton Kora join forces with The New Zealand String Quartet to today announce a nationwide tour of the New Zealand String Quartet, Four Suits and A Soprano in April and May 2021.
The concert tour, including 16 performances, will be a night of operatic classics from Nessun Dorma through to pop classics. So whether you’re a fan of the classics or a lover of pop’s high notes, there’s something for everyone in this night of magic.
Tickets on sale Thursday via Ticketek or Ticketmaster
About
the artists:
The New Zealand String
Quartet
New Zealand’s premiere chamber ensemble and only full-time string quartet, the current formation of musicians consists of Helene Pohl (1st
violin), Monique Lapins (2nd violin), Gillian Ansell (viola) and
Rolf Gjelsten (cello).
Acclaimed performances in London's Wigmore Hall and the City of London
Festival, in New York at the Frick Collection, and in Washington's Library of
Congress Coolidge Auditorium have led to regular touring in the UK, Europe and
North America. The Quartet has also toured in Mexico, Curaçao, Japan,
Korea, and China, and made many visits to Australia, including the Australian
Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville and the Canberra International Music Festival.
Much-loved by audiences in New Zealand, the country's premier chamber
ensemble presents a vast array of concerts in venues large and small all over
the country each year.
Ipu Laga’aia
A protege of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Ipu’s passion for music came to light at the
young age of 3 years - singing in the church, but his path narrowed toward
classical music in his final year at Sacred Heart College in 2013. He is
currently exploring the world of opera, and within the last couple of years has
been a part of a number of classical groups such as the Auckland Chamber Choir
and SOTO VOCE.
His performance at a Gala Concert in the
Presence of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa last year delighted audience members and saw
Dame Kiri perform a Flamenco style dance.
Sophie Morris
Career highlights include performing major musical theatre roles (Sophie -
Mamma Mia, Jellylorum - Cats, Sandy - Grease), singing national anthems at many sporting events (including the Parker v Ruiz WBO World
Heavyweight Title, The T20 Black Clash and the Rugby League Four Nations),
acting in film, television, theatre and commercial productions and performing
at numerous events including Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park and The Silver
Scroll Awards.
Rutene Spooner
Rutene has toured nationally and internationally performing for various theatre
and corporate entertainment companies.
He has appeared in shows such as Anything Goes (2009), The Buddy Holly Musical,
Grease (2012), Avenue Q (2013), La Cage aux Folles (2013), The Mikado
(2014) Oklahoma (2014) and Billy Elliot (2016)… to name a few.
His soulful, dulcet tones have been described as being “smooth like
caramel”. Rutene is also a part of the Modern Maori Quartet whanau.
Outside of his busy performance schedule, Rutene also works as a director,
producer, and vocal and performance coach. Rutene is a proud member and vocal
coach of Te Kapa Haka of Whāngara-Mai-Tawhiti.
Laughton Kora
With his incredible voice and immense talent has been at the forefront of New
Zealand music for over the past decade.
Laughton performed at The Big Day Out 3 times and featured alongside Tool &
Dizzee Rascal. Other performances include; the Vodafone Music Awards, WOMAD UK,
WOMAD Aust. & WOMAD NZ. Crazy P, Cabaret Voltaire, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shapeshifter & Shihad. He toured Australia consistently and played Pyramid
Festival, Sydney Festival, Stone Festival, FreshFest, Playgorund &
Quicksilver ProShow 2009. He has performed at Koko’s in London, UK, Ireland
& Scotland with Crazy P & Norman Jay.
Chris McRae
Chris is a graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA)
with a Bachelor of Performing Arts.
His previous Court Theatre credits include Amadeus; The Mikado; The Emperor’s
New Clothes and Mary Poppins. His other theatre credits include South Pacific;
HMS Pinafore; Saturday Night Fever, The Last 5 Years (Kindle Theatre) and Rock
of Ages (Magnitude Productions).
Chris has also performed and covered various roles with New Zealand Opera in
repertoire such as Sweeney Todd; Carmen; The Mikado; Don Pasquale; Tosca and La
Boheme. Tokyo shows, performances in Minakami and Habuka in early February 2010
and Mosaic Festival in Singapore. In the USA, a full West Coast Tour including
Sierra Nevada Music Festival.
THE NEW ZEALAND STRING
QUARTET,
FOUR SUITS & A
SOPRANO
APRIL & MAY 2021
April |
17 |
Ashburton |
Event Centre |
7:30pm |
|
18 |
Christchurch |
Town Hall |
4pm & 8pm |
|
20 |
Nelson |
Trafalgar Centre |
7:30pm |
|
21 |
Blenheim |
ASB Theatre |
7:30pm |
|
23 |
Wellington |
MFC |
7:30pm |
|
24 |
Kapiti |
Southwards Theatre |
7:30pm |
|
25 |
New Plymouth |
TSB Theatre |
7:30pm |
|
27 |
Hamilton |
Clarence Street Theatre |
8pm |
|
28 |
Hamilton |
Clarence Street Theatre |
6pm |
|
29 |
Auckland |
BMC |
7:30pm |
|
30 |
Tauranga |
Baycourt |
7:30pm |
|
1 |
Tauranga |
Baycourt |
7:30pm |
May |
2 |
Gisborne |
Memorial Theatre |
8pm |
|
4 |
Napier |
Municipal Theatre |
8pm |
|
7 |
Wanganui |
RWOH |
7:30pm |
|
8 |
Palmerston North |
Regent on Broadway |
7:30pm |
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