Italy Beckons Maori Opera Singer
A Rotorua grandmother and opera singer, Timua Te Puhi Kai Ariki Brennan, embarks on a two-week singing tour to Italy in
late April taking a taste of Maori to the opera loving Italians. Canti Maori (Maori Songs) - a programme of Maori and
non-Maori works - will be performed in a series of public and private concert engagements by Ms Brennan and three other
Maori artists - Horomona Horo, Sarah-Jayne Te Awhina Edwards and Shane Te Otinga Edwards. The group will perform at
several reputable Italian music festivals as well as some exclusive opera events in prestigious venues in Rome, Tuscany
and Sicily. The tour is organised and managed by Patricia Hurley from Patricia's Opera Tours (POT), and has received
funding from Te Waka Toi Creative New Zealand.
Canti Maori is a presentation of Maori culture and protocols through song, incantations and traditional Maori
instruments, played by Horomona Horo. Poi and Haka action songs feature, along with musical works by New Zealand
composers Gillian Whitehead and Hori Brennan. The second half of programme includes well-known Italian opera arias
performed by Ms Brennan. The tour is designed to showcase Maori culture alongside kiwi opera talent.
"My passion for singing and loyalty to New Zealand composers, both Maori and non-Maori, gives me a great sense of pride
in being able to showcase our creative product to another culture," says Timua. "But Canti Maori does more than this, as
the programme is a melding of two established musical traditions - Maori and Italian - of which I appreciate both."
Patricia Hurley from Patricia's Opera Tours is accustomed to arranging opera and cultural tours to Italy for New
Zealanders several times each year. However, through her strong network of contacts, Canti Maori will now take a slice
of New Zealand and Maori culture to Italy.
"Canti Maori brings together centuries old artistic traditions from the Maori, Italian and operatic cultures. There's an
affinity between Maori and the Italians, which dates back to the Second World War and the Maori Battalions. But more
recently, there has been a heightened awareness of New Zealand in Italy through the presence of our artworks at the
Venice Biennale, our high-profile film successes and the America's Cup. So there has been much interest in Canti Maori
and what it represents artistically, culturally and in fostering good relations."
After singing locally for many years in Rotorua, Timua was “discovered” in a singing competition and was encouraged to
seek professional voice training. As a mother of four and a grandmother, Timua made some life-changing decisions to
develop her talent and pursue a singing career relatively late in life. She has recently completed a Master of Music in
Vocal Performance with First Class Honours at Waikato University. A finalist in the Lockwood Aria competition in Rotorua
in 2002, Timua won the 2003 Lockwood Aria Regional Prize. She is a regular performer at Opera in the Pa, Rotorua and
recently performed a solo concert at St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington.
The inspiration and invitation for Canti Maori, followed Timua's attendance last year at a week-long Italian School for
Singers in Tuscany, run by POT in conjunction with their annual northern Italy tour. The School offers four up and
coming New Zealand singers an opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian culture, language and opera under the tuition
of distinguished Welsh conductor, Wyn Davies. Over the week the singers spend the day studying Italian language and
vocal technique, and get to experience opera and Italian life first- hand alongside the tour participants.
The Canti Maori tour party leaves New Zealand for Italy on April 20, 2004.
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