Dame Kiri to perform . . . but not here

SHE is, apparently, coming to Gisborne next year to officially open the retirement village that bears her name but, due the heftiness of her performance fee, she won’t be performing here. With the support of sponsors, however soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will perform in Rotorua.
Dame Kiri will appear in her Dame Kiri Sings In Rotorua recital on April 26 at the city’s recently-upgraded Civic Theatre. It will be her only public recital in the North Island in 2012.
Rotorua’s success in attracting the London-based artist follows months of behind-the-scenes work and negotiations by performing arts enthusiasts and promoters Ian Edward and Grahame Hall.
The pair are donating their time and effort to staging the concert meaning that any profits from the event will go to the Rotorua Lakeside Concerts Charitable Trust.
They were keen to keep ticket prices as low as possible and, with a lead-in price of $90, believed they had achieved that objective.
“But Dame Kiri wouldn’t be coming to Rotorua and ticket prices wouldn’t be so affordable if it wasn’t for a number of generous local individuals and businesses who have put their hands in their pockets to financially back this special event,” Grahame Hall said.
Dame Kiri’s concert was a coup for Rotorua as many other cities would jump at the chance of hosting a concert by her, Edward added.
“The concert will be a rare opportunity for New Zealanders to experience one of the world’s most famous sopranos ‘up close and personal’ in Rotorua’s intimate Civic Theatre,” he said. “I imagine tickets are going to be very popular items in Christmas stockings this year.”
■ The Dame Kiri Sings In Rotorua recital — with tenor Ben Makisi and pianist Terrence Dennis — will be on at Rotorua’s Civic Theatre on April 26, 2012. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.