A chance phone call has led to one of the world's foremost vocal trouble-shooters, Paul Farrington, arriving in Wanganui from the UK this week.
He is the international guest vocal teacher at the New Zealand Opera School, which began in the city on Tuesday.
Mr Farrington told the Chronicle he didn't even take a deep breath when he got an unexpected phone call from the school's founder, Donald Trott, last year asking if he would be its international tutor.
"I have never been to New Zealand before. It has always been at the top of my wish list. New Zealand, internationally, is known for its arts, theatre, opera and wonderful voices," Mr Farrington said.
Some of the world's leading opera and concert singers he has worked with include New Zealanders Jonathon Lemalu, and Wendy Dawn Thomson.
With the school being held in January, during his holiday break, there was no problem fitting it into his 2006 schedule and he is also delighted with Wanganui and Collegiate's facilities and beauty.
"It's a wonderful place to have an opera school." Mr Trott's phone call was prompted by Welshman Wyn Davies, NBR New Zealand Opera Company's music director.
Mr Trott said he had not considered asking Mr Farrington "because he is in such demand as a freelance vocal coach."
"I spoke to Wyn about the difficulty I was having as Madame Zeani could no longer attend the school, and he replied ask Paul, January is his holiday time."
"It is a real coup to have Paul here," Mr Trott said.
Mr Farrington, since graduating in voice and piano from Birmingham Conservatoire in 1982, has had a varied career as a singer, choral conductor, and is professor Emeritus to the Operahogskolan in Stockholm.
His engagements include coaching the principal artists for all Britain's National Opera Companies, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Glyndebourne Festival.
The public will be able to see Mr Farrington taking the opera school's master classes tonight and on January 10 at Collegiate's Prince Edward Auditorium.
Both sessions start at 7.30pm. Tickets ($10) are available at the door:
On January 8 the public can attend a Collegiate School Chapel non denominational service-To Music- at 11.30am, sung by the opera school's students. ( A retiring offering will be taken).
On January 9, at the Sarjeant Gallery, the students will give a 12.30pm lunchtime concert. (The $20 Ticket includes lunch).
The school's final public concert will be Great Moments from Opera on January 13 at 7.30pm at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.
Top vocal tutor here for opera school
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