ANZAC

Every year the staff and pupils of the Wanganui Collegiate School commemorate ANZAC in a very moving ceremony. Have look at the ceremony to the accompaniment of the fine chapel pipe organ, played by Director of Music Nicholas Grigsby.

The year of the countertenor

2010/11 seems to be the year of the Countertenor. It was a great pleasure to have Stephen Diaz at both the 2010 and 2011 New Zealand Opera School to work on his beautiful countertenor voice. His singing captured the hearts of all who heard him. At only 21 years of age, one can already see in him a great voice for the future and I (and others) predict he will go far. Today the Baroque works of the 17th and 18th centuries are being rediscovered and performed in many opera houses around the world and a voice like Stephen’s will be a winner. Have a look at this TV One clip of Stephen working with Paul Farrington at the 2010 NZ Opera School. 

During the 2011 NZ Opera School, Stephen learnt the great Riccardo Broschi (1698-1756) aria ‘Ombra fedele anch’io’ from the opera Idaspe. Riccardo was the brother of Carlo Broschi who was one of the greatest of the castrati and performed under the stage name Farinelli. Stephen performed this aria in the Royal Wanganui Opera House during the final concert before a capacity audience. Have a look at Stephen’s performance of this beautiful aria.