Cultural bonanza on way to Rotorua

The curtain will rise on Rotorua's cultural bonanza on Wednesday when Te Ihi Te Wehi, the Rotorua Festival of Arts, begins.

Festival director Monty Morrison and his team have been working hard to ensure everything is in place for the three-week festival, which kicks off with a performance by Strike Percussion at the Rotorua Convention Centre.

Opera singers, artists, pop stars, comedians, musicians, extreme performance artists and actors will all perform in the festival.

Copies of the festival programme were distributed to homes throughout Rotorua last week and Mr Morrison said he had been getting a lot of positive feedback about the quality and range of fare on offer this year.

As with the last programme in 2003, there are three main events on each of the weekends during the festival -- the Montana Jazz Streatfest on January 22 and 23, Opera in the Pa on January 29 and Encore: Lakeside 2005 on February 5.

Trust chairman Grahame Hall said one of the organisation's specific objectives had been to bring more talent to Rotorua through the festival.

The Montana Jazz Streatfest billing has been growing every year, with New Zealand jazz luminaries Caitlin Smith, Jan Preston, Woody Woodhouse and Gahu included for this year's two-day event.

Opera in the Pa at Ohinemutu just north of the city centre will include some of the country's finest vocal talents, including Kate Spence, Ben Makisi and Timua Brennan, while Dame Malvina Major will perform with 2004 Lockwood Aria winner Viktoriya Dodoka on February 1.

Later, Encore: Lakeside 2005 should end the festival with a bang.

The star-studded billing features upcoming star Yulia Townsend, The Yandell Sisters and New Zealand Idol stars Ben Lummis, Michael Murphy and Camillia Temple.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)