Wagner's bi-centenary is remembered in the moving and evocative Prelude to Tristan and Isolde. Of which Wagner wrote: "henceforth no end to the yearning, longing, rapture, and misery of love: world, power, fame, honor, chivalry, loyalty, and friendship, scattered like an insubstantial dream; one thing alone left living: longing, longing unquenchable, desire forever renewing itself, craving and languishing; one sole redemption: death, surcease of being, the sleep that knows no waking!"
Benjamin Britten centenary celebrations continue with Britten's exquisite, adventurous panorama Les Illuminations featuring prominent tenor Patrick Power. Britten used the poetry of modernist French poet Arthur Rimbaud as inspiration for this work.
The concert ends on a dramatic note with Lutoslawski's masterpiece Concerto for Orchestra . In three movements the Concerto combines folk themes, fine orchestration with vibrant colours and rhythms. Concerto for Orchestra has been described as an "exquisite, adverturous panorama".
Concerto for Orchestra presents a memorable program for this final offering in a season of extraordinary music.
Patrick Power grew up in Hawkes Bay, was educated at St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, the Universities of Otago and Auckland, Epsom Teachers College and L'Universita per Stranieri, Perugia. More recently the University of Waikato.
In his early years Patrick was Principal Lyric Tenor for The Norwegian Opera in Oslo, he spent three years in similar positions in Krefeld and Munich before moving to London and a free lance career. He debuted at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera in 1979 in Monteverdi's Il Ritorno di Ulisse.
He made his Royal Opera House Covent Garden debut in 1981 as The Simpleton in Tarkovsky and Abbado's production of Boris Godunov. In 1984 he sang the Britten Serenade at the New York Festival. In 1987 he sang Almaviva for the San Francisco Opera Season. That same year he recorded the Beethoven 9th with Sir Roger Norrington.
His busy and distinguished international career began with Mozart and Bach as his specialities. He gradually moved into heavier Lyric roles and later years Spinto roles like Canio and Radames. He has sung some 60 lead roles.
Patrick is now Lecturer of Vocal Studies at The Elder Conservatorium , University of Adelaide.
This year he has sung a "Verdi and Wagner" Concert in New Zealand under the baton of Jose Aparicio.
Evenings at Elder Hall series gratefully acknowledges the series' supporters: SA POWER NETWORKS, Helpmann Academy, and wine sponsor - Soul Growers, Barossa Valley
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