Cruise with the Governor General

Cruise with the Governor General

The Auckland Philharmonia's elegant, outdoor musical event, the Huka Lodge Summer Matinée, "sets sail" on Sunday 23 March at 12 noon.

Enjoy lunch on the lawns of the Governor General's residence while the Auckland Philharmonia, conductor Marc Taddei, guest artists, and "Captain" David Stott take you on a musical cruise around the sun-drenched Mediterranean.

The first musical port of call is Chabrier's España, followed by a visit to the south of France for some Ravel. Time is then spent ashore in Italy for Respighi's magnificent Pines of Rome, Verdi's Force of Destiny Overture, and some popular Italian arias with Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists Sarah Jane Rennie (soprano) and Jack Bourke (tenor).

After interval the "SS Philharmonia" sails to the eastern end of the Mediterranean for Khachaturian's Spartacus, and a selection of romantic shipboard songs with leading New Zealand singer Tim Beveridge. The cruise continues to Arabia for Handel's Entrance of the Queen of Sheba and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and casts anchor in Algeria to the sounds of Rossini's overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers.

The annual Huka Lodge Summer Matinée is a major fundraising event for the Auckland Philharmonia. Tickets ($65 adults, $25 children) include the concert, a Mediterranean-inspired picnic hamper, and fruit juice or a 350ml bottle of Villa Maria's award-winning wine. For bookings phone the Auckland Philharmonia on 0800-PHILHARMONIA (0800-744 542).

The Auckland Philharmonia acknowledges major support of this event from Huka Lodge, Villa Maria Estate, Panda Catering and Unibag.

The Auckland Philharmonia receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and a major grant from Auckland City.

© Scoop Media