Klais MD pays us another visit

The organ in our beautiful Town hall grows daily as rank after rank of new, and some of the original 1911 organ, take their place behind the splendid and indeed inspiring façade of pipes. Markus, the voicer from Germany can be seen regularly at the lovely new console checking each rank following their placing inside the instrument and voicing.

Trott and Philipp Klais at the new console. The original 1911 ivory keys and stop knobs have been refurbished and retained.

Philipp Klais, the Managing Director, and fourth generation family member as head of the firm, flew in from Bonn the other day to check progress and with Ian Bell, our English adviser to the project, (also present) they listened to and discussed the merits of the sound. The consensus from all who have heard the instrument at this stage is one of great enthusiasm. Indeed I gave a tour to the wife of a prominent New Zealand Businessman and arts philanthropist, while Markus was at the console putting the assembled ranks through their paces. She was VERY impressed and claimed it as a beautiful and enriching experience.


From Bonn, L to R Markus the voicer of the pipes and Lukas, apprentice with Philipp inspect the new pipes just installed in the Great Organ.

Indeed I find the sound very faithful to the grand English organ sound, rich, full and beautiful as a Town Hall organ should be, in my opinion, and I guess in the minds of 99.9% of the population whose instrument it is.

The instrument is destined to be finished by the established date of 2nd December. There will be several months of ‘play in’ and adjustments ready for the grand public launch on the 21st March 2010. This will be a ‘red letter’ day form Auckland and this instrument will be ‘the jewel in Auckland’s crown’.

The Organ Trustees have appointed John Wells as the Artistic Director for the grand occasion. John is in the process of composing an organ concerto to celebrate the occasion and the Freemasons (the Lodge of the Liberal Arts and the Freemasons Roskill Foundation) are paying for the commission. This will be great day of celebration with choirs, organ and orchestra.


Markus, Philipp and Lukas inside the Swell Organ.

On the 25 and 26th March the renowned organist from Britain, Thomas Trotter will present a symphony with organ and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and on Sunday the 28th he will give a solo recital.

No Wyn for WOW - for now

In one of my earlier blogs I said that Maestro Wyn Davies, Director of Music, the NBR New Zealand Opera would be performing his famous ‘Just Wyn’ cabaret later this year as a fund raiser for the New Zealand Opera School. Sadly this will now not be the case as Wyn will NOT be returning to New Zealand until about April 2010. The good news is that he will perform this great and entertaining work then. Those who remember Victor Borgé will delight in a somewhat similar performance by Wyn.

From Russia, with love

Peter Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin, based on the great Pushkin poem, will reach the Aotea Centre on the 15th of September (dress rehearsal) and open on the 17th of September for a season of five performances, and then open in The St James in Wellington on the10th of October. Of the ten operas Tchaikovsky wrote, this one is, without doubt, the most famous.

Act 1 The young sisters, Tatyana and Olga, are together in their home and while their mother, Madame Larina listens at first to the two singing, she and Tatyana’s nurse Filipievna soon join in. A chorus of reapers arrives singing a sort of folk song and present Madame Larina with flowers.

Tatyana is immersed in thoughts of far-off regions that the songs have inspired whist Olga says she has no time for such dreams and that the music does nothing but make her want to dance. Then Lensky, Olga’s fiancé, accompanied by his friend Onegin arrive at the home. Meeting as any young lovers would Olga and Lensky engage in conversation while Onegin and Tatyana get to know each other. Tatyana realises that there is a growing affection for Onegin and before the end of the first act she writes a letter expressing her love. This is delivered to Onegin. He, however, does not share her feelings. Love and marriage are not for him, he loves her as would a brother but no more than that. The curtain falls on act one.

Act2 A ball to celebrate Tatyana’s birthday is in progress. A guest is none other than Onegin who dances with her which engenders ill natured gossip amongst some of the guests who do not view Onegin kindly. Bored with the whole event Onegin turns on his friend Lensky and steals a dance with Olga that she had promised to her fiancé Lensky.

A diversion softens the tense situation when the old French tutor Triquet sings a charming song which he dedicates to Tatyana. A dance is announced and Onegin further infuriates Lensky by continuing to dance with Olga. Able to stand the situation no longer Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel.

Great consternation arises from all the guests and Onegin, in an ensemble that follows, bitterly regrets his behaviour towards his friend but realises that the affair has gone too far and the duel will take place in the morning.

Deep remorse is in Lensky's heart, as, in the chill of the early morning, he prepares for what he seems to know will be his death. Onegin arrives, late, and in a dispute over the matter of a second (a duel cannot take place without a second) Onegin introduces his servant as an appropriate second and the two go off to discuss the conditions of the duel. The bleak music and the dead-pan nervousness highlight the situation. The pistols are raised and fired and Lensky is killed.



Act 3 Years have passed and we are now in St Petersburg, with an elegant ball in progress at a fine mansion, the home of Prince Gremin, a close friend of the Tsar. The atmosphere is in considerable contrast to the rather folksy occasion in Madame Larina’s house at the commencement of the opera. Onegin is present after having spent years in the ‘wilderness’ to atone for the death of his friend. Prince Gremin arrives with his wife who is none other than Tatyana. In a ‘show-stopping aria’ Prince Gremin tells Onegin of the great happiness the beauty and love of Tatyana has brought him (English translation of the first line (‘To love all ages must surrender’).

Soon Tatyana leaves the room and the final scene has Onegin recalling their earlier times and he realises that he is hopelessly in love with Tatyana. But she is the wife of Prince Gremin and will remain honourable to him. The final parting comes with Tatyana leaving the room and leaving Onegin totally distraught as the curtain falls on a great opera and a great piece of Russian poetry. Running time is about 2hrs 30mins

Westminster comes calling, the Abbey that is!

It was my great pleasure to take Christopher Herrick, organist from Westminster Abbey through the Auckland Town Hall Organ on Monday.

Christopher is here giving some lectures and recitals the most public of which will be in the Christchurch Town Hall. Christopher was VERY impressed with the splendid work Klais have achieved and particularly impressed with the supreme efforts they have gone to to ensure the ‘English’ sound. He has given his own ‘feedback’ on this.


Christoper Herrick

Back in 2004 Christopher gave a very fine recital on the Town Hall Organ before it was dismantled. At a subsequent Council and Organists meeting he declared that what happened to the organ in 1970 was a great tragedy and wished the Council and the Trust the very best of luck with the refurbishment project. We will soon be on the final run and the great desire of so many enthusiasts will be realised. Keep 4.30pm 21st March 2010 firmly in mind.

Top 10

The other day, my radio told me that a very reliable source has named Simon O’Neill as being one of the top 10 tenors in the world and particularly in the world of the Wagnerian tenore.

Congratulations and salutations from all your friends here. It really only seems like yesterday at the NZ Opera School in 1994/5 that Madame Virginia Zeani confirmed to a nearly full Prince Edward Auditorium at the Wanganui Collegiate School that Simon was indeed a tenor and not a baritone. Over the following years, Simon followed his dream, worked very hard, kept the vision before him and is now well on his way. In 2012, 13 & 14 he will be performing in the opera Otello in none other than La Scala Opera House in Milan.

Saluté.

We're on the move

The Wellington office of The NBR New Zealand Opera is moving to new
premises — from Wednesday, 15 July 2009 please visit us at:

The NBR New Zealand Opera
Freemasons House
195-201 Willis Street
Wellington 6011

www.nzopera.co.nz

Hey ho for the ‘classics’ – cars that is!

MGB

In the latest Daimler Spare Parts Car Club magazine (arguably the largest car club in the Southern Hemisphere), the President urges the restoration of these beautiful English classics as a means of helping the environment, rather than simply scrapping them for something new and, perhaps, seemingly more glamorous – although I have yet to see a new car that matches the beauty of say a Mark 2 Daimler or Jag or maybe a Rover 3500 P5B or an XJ6. They always ‘turn heads’. Someone sat down with pencil and paper and designed these beauties. If they were not so beautiful, why is there such a demand in places like Japan for these vehicles? So many have left these shores for new homes in Japan. There was a lovely P5B for sale recently. No local takers! Where did it go? To Japan.


Daimler XJ6 4.2

I have long been an admirer of English classics and others from Europe like the earlier Mercedes, Citroens etc. My little ‘collection’ comprises a 1972 MGB (26 years: my everyday car) a series one XJ6 4.2 Daimler (21 years) and a Rover 3500 P5B. (5 years). I have owned seven Rovers previously and was negotiating on a P5B Coupe in 1977 but a sudden death in the family put it far from my mind, so I did it 27 years later, not a coupe but a saloon, with no regrets. It was my 30 year old nephew, showing great interest in these cars, who re-aroused my interest. Thank you Matthew. Classics are a drivers car.

Rover 3500 P5B

I thought viewers to my weblog might like to see these vehicles, all in great condition and all perfectly capable of a quick trip Auckland-Wellington return when desired.Footnote: Classic cars should ALWAYS be garaged, serviced and used regularly. It’s fun.