#Royal Wanganui Opera House

[jontycrane]

Whanganui

At the start of WW1 Whanganui was the fifth largest city in New Zealand. It is now the 19th largest, with a population of ~50,000 people, but is one of the more interesting to visit, with plenty to fill a varied couple of days. To begin with one of my favourite places, the fabulous Paloma Gardens, wonderfully exotic gardens 15 mins outside town. They’re a bit overgrown, but that is part of the…

[livinglikebritishroyalty]

𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝐸𝒹𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹

♕ 𝐹𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝒩𝒶𝓂𝑒: Edward Antony Richard Louis

♕ 𝐹𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝒯𝒾𝓉𝓁𝑒: His Royal Highness Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis The Earl of Wessex

♕ 𝐵𝓸𝓇𝓃: Tuesday, March 10th, 1964 at Buckingham Palace in London, England

♕ 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈: Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh (Father) & Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Mother)

♕ 𝒮𝒾𝒷𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: His Royal Highness Prince Charles Prince of Wales (Brother), Her Royal Highness Anne The Princess Royal (Sister), & His Royal Highness Prince Andrew The Duke of York (Brother)

♕ 𝒮𝓅𝓸𝓊𝓈𝑒: Her Royal Highness Sophie The Countess of Wessex (M. 1999)

♕ 𝒞𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓃: Lady Louise Windsor (Daughter) & James Viscount Severn (Son)

♕ 𝐸𝒹𝓊𝒸𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃: Buckingham Palace, Gibbs School (In Kensington, London), Heatherdown School (In Ascot, Berkshire, England), Gordonstoun (In Moray, Scotland: Appointed Headboy, 1 C Level & 2 D Level Grades in GCE Advanced Levels), Whanganui Collegiate School (In Whanganui, New Zealand: House Tutor & Junior Master), & Jesus College of University of Cambridge (In Cambridge, United Kingdom: History & Bachelor of Arts)

♕ 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓈, 𝒲𝓸𝓇𝓀, & 𝒫𝒶𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓃𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈: Interests: Humanity (Disabled Adults, Human Rights Abuse & Religion), Armed Forces (Fire Rescue & Marines), Automobiles, Education (History & Tutor Programs), Nature (Agriculture, Archeology, Conservation of Animals, Gardening, Horticulture, Marine Research, & Natural Disasters), The Arts (Dance, Music, Television Production, & Theatre), Sports (Badminton, Paraplegic, Skiing, Snowboard, & Tennis), & Young People (Human Rights Abuse & Self-Improvement Exercises). Work: Producer of Musicals & Plays (Cats, Cricket, Phantom of The Opera, & Starlight Express), Producer of Television Programs (Documentary about Edward VIII, The Grand Knockout Tournament), Production Assistant for Really Useful Group, & Production Director/Joint Managing Director of Ardent Productions Television Production Company. Patronages: Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, Chairman of The Trustees of The Prince Philip Trust Fund for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Chairman of International Special Projects for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, Chancellor of The University of Bath, Co-Founder of Earl & Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust, Court Assistant of The Worshipful Company of Fuellers, Honorary Chairmen of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award for Young Canadians Challenge Charter for Business, Honorary Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Coopers, Honorary Member of The Association of the Friends of Lincoln Cathedral, Honorary Member of The British & Commonwealth Fire Company Foundation "Fundacion 14", Honorary Member of The Eight O'Clock Club of The Marlowe Theatre Development Trust, Honorary Member of The Household Division Yacht Club, Honorary Member of The Incorporation of Coopers of Glasgow, Honorary Member of The Rotary Club of Windsor & Eton, Honorary Member of The Royal Automobile Club, Honorary Member of The Travellers Club, International Council of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, Member of the Court of Assistants of The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Gardeners, Patron of ADC Theatre, Patron of Badminton in Scotland, Patron of Chetham's School of Music, Patron of Appeal of The Renewal of Isle of Wight Newport Minster Appeal, Patron of The Beacon Arts Centre, Patron of The British Paralympic Association, Patron of The British Ski & Snowboard Ltd, Patron of The Bristol/Clifton/West of England Zoological Society Ltd, Patron of The Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Patron of The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Patron of The Classworks Theatre, Patron of The Edinburgh International Festival, Patron of The Fovant Badges Society, Patron of The Friends of the Royal Wanganui Opera House, Patron of The Globe Theatre, Patron of The Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society, Patron of The Hall for Cornwall Trust, Patron of The Hill 112 Memorial Foundation Appeal, Patron of The International Real Tennis Professionals Association, Patron of The London Gardens Society, Patron of The London Mozart Players, Patron of The The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Patron of The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, Patron of The The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, Patron of The Northern Ballet, Patron of The Norwich Cathedral Music Appeal, Patron of The Oglander Roman Trust (Brading Roman Villa), Patron of The Orpheus Centre Trust, Patron of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Patron of The Royal Exchange Theatre Company, Patron of The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association, Patron of The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, Patron of The Royal School in Wolverhampton, Patron of The The Royal Yacht Squadron Isle of Wight Foundation, Patron of The Sport & Recreation Alliance, Patron of The Tennis & Rackets Association, Patron of The Windsor Festival, President/Vice Patron of The Commonwealth Games Federation, President of The Creative Youth, President of The National Youth Music Theatre, President of The The Royal Theatrical Support Trust, President of The Seafarers UK (King George's Fund for Sailors), Royal Patron of The Queen's Club, Trustee for The The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, & Visitor of The Living Classrooms Foundation

[sonialees]

I think we can all agree - this will be the greatest singalong tour in NZ! 🙌🏽 I'm going to know EVERY song....👍🏽 @davidjdobbyn SLICE OF HEAVEN - 40 YEARS OF HITS TOUR 12 April Forum North, #Whangarei 13 April @asbwaterfronttheatre #Auckland 14 April #WaihekeJazzFestival, #Waiheke 15 April The Plaza, #Putaruru 16 April Gaiety Theatre, #Wairoa 20 April Civic Centre, #Feilding 21 April Opera House, #Wanganui 22 April Old St Paul’s, #Wellington 26 April Trafalgar Centre, #Nelson 27 April Isaac Theatre Royal, #Christchurch 28 April Glenroy Auditorium, #Dunedin 29 April CentreStage Theatre, #Invercargill Tickets go on sale at midday on Monday 13 . . . #greatnztour #nzmusic #kiwimusic #classic #live #nztour #dontmissout

[kirionline-dame-kiri-te-kanawa]

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa arriving at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Saturday evening for the NZ Opera School Gala Concert. (c) Wanganui Opera Week.

[kirionline-dame-kiri-te-kanawa]

Yahoo News NZ | Students Rapt With Rare Christmas Presence.

From Dunedin to Auckland’s North Shore, young singers chosen for the country’s only intensive residential opera school ( New Zealand Opera School ) are packing their bags this Christmas and heading for Whanganui, where they will advance their craft in the presence of leading international tutors. 

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, whose Foundation supports the International Vocal Faculty at the school, will visit for the first time and personally hold masterclasses with the 22 students."Dame Kiri is a font of knowledge," says Auckland-based Helene Holman, a young mezzo-soprano and all-round stage performer. "She will have something to give to all of us. I’m hoping the school will help me build the confidence to stand out from the crowd and be the artist I want to be."

As an emerging artist with New Zealand Opera , tenor Filipe Manu has sung chorus and minor roles in most of the company’s productions over the last two years, and he is pleased to be returning to the opera school for the fourth time for this special semester. Having appeared on-stage with Dame Kiri, he is looking forward to the personal tuition. "Every time I go to the school I learn something more that I can build on," he says. "I’m consistently progressing. It’s a good way to start the year."

Harry Grigg is a young tenor from Christchurch who observed the school last year and became determined to qualify for attending in 2016. "It’s a great opportunity to get different perspectives on where my voice is at. It’s not often 22 people with the same drive can get together to collaborate. It would be so good to get on Dame Kiri’s radar - she’s amazing."

Dame Kiri’s public event will take place on Friday 15 January when, in conversation with Rodney Macann at Wanganui Collegiate, she will talk about her life in opera and her passion for developing the talents of young singers. (Tickets, costing just $15, are now on sale from the Royal Wanganui Opera House.) Dame Kiri will also be the guest of honour at the school’s gala concert at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Saturday 16 January.

Students will be in residence from 4 -17 January, and, along with their tutors and the Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists , will engage with the community through performances in cafés, a lunchtime concert and a series of masterclasses. These will involve New Zealand’s most successful international tenor Simon O’Neill, Prof Håkan Hagegård, and dynamic Welsh soprano Della Jones. They will be complemented by members of the Freemasons Music Faculty including Isabel Cunningham, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Terence Dennis and Bruce Greenfield.

Limited tickets are available in advance to the events, except Dame Kiri’s masterclass which will be for students only. All proceeds go towards supporting the New Zealand Opera School and the teaching programme which is free-of-charge to the students.School director Jonathan Alver says all their Christmases have come at once for the students. "Little did they know when they applied, from all over New Zealand, that they would be able to meet and learn from one of the world’s legendary opera stars. They are absolutely rapt."