KEY POINTS:
Before he leads the Auckland Philharmonia through his classic songbook tomorrow night, Burt Bacharach's first Kiwi conducting job was something far less melodic - a press conference.
The quietly spoken, silver-haired 79-year-old Californian was with lyricist Hal David, half of the partnership behind such timeless pop hits such as Walk On By, I Say A Little Prayer, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head and more than 40 more number one hits.
Yesterday, he reflected on everything from his many hits for many voices (first names like "Aretha", "Dionne", "Whitney" popped up frequently), to his young family (his 14-year-old son, Oliver, is here with him and staying on to go snowboarding) to his disdain for the Bush Administration that inspired his Grammy-winning 2005 album At This Time.
It's Bacharach's first time here other than a previous short cruise ship layover.
He was due to play earlier in the year but postponed after shoulder surgery followed a few days later by the suicide of his eldest daughter, Nikki, who had long struggled with Asperger's syndrome. "That was nearly as bad as it can get," he said.
Bacharach's appearance here comes after five nights at the Sydney Opera House and rapturous reviews throughout Australia.
Ten top Burt Bacharach songs and who recorded them
Magic Moments
Perry Como - 1957
(They Long to be) Close to You
Richard Chamberlain - 1963
Dionne Warwick - 1965
Johnny Mathis - 1970
The Carpenters - 1970
Wishin' and Hopin'
Dionne Warwick - 1963
Dusty Springfield - 1964
Stephanie McIntosh - 2006
What the World Needs now is Love
Jackie DeShannon - 1965
This Guy's in Love with You
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - 1968
Noel Gallagher - 1998
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head
B.J. Thomas - 1969
Johnny Mathis - 1969
That's what Friends are for
Rod Stewart - 1982
Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John - 1986
Alfie
Cilla Black - 1966
Cher - 1966
Dionne Warwick - 1967
Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa
Gene Pitney - 1963
I just don't know what to do with Myself
Dusty Springfield - 1964
Dionne Warwick - 1966
The White Stripes - 2003
* For Russell Baillie's earlier interview with Burt Bacharach, click here.
