Festival Opens to Sell Out Performances

Festival Opens to Sell Out Performances

The second Festival of Colour opened today (Tuesday) to sell out shows and premiere performances.

The Festival kicked off with lunchtime opening act, American musician Lauren Pelon, who astounded the audience with her extraordinary talent in playing over 20 instruments ranging in origin from the Middle Ages to modern day. The programme featured music from throughout the world, from Peru to Kazakhstan, Iraq to North America aptly illustrating how music transcends both time and cultures.

Later in the day, as he officially opened the Festival, Mayor Clive Geddes gave credit to the Wanaka community for its energy and vision and to the Festival for yet again demonstrating its ability to provide unique acts.

“The Festival of Colour is set to become an integral part of the Southern Lakes framework,” he said. “Many of the performances we will enjoy this week have never before been seen in New Zealand. The Festival has once again provided world and national class acts purely for the community’s enjoyment and that’s the key – making it accessible to all.”

As the speeches finished the deep base tones of Michel Tuffery’s art installation echoed from outside the Infinity Crystal Palace. Spectators spilled onto the street to watch the world premiere of his latest installation work, First Contact. Using sound, images and film footage projected onto a giant pod suspended between two trees, the work depicts Captain Cook’s first contact with the Pacific Island people.

The New Zealand premiere of choreographer Raewyn Hill’s new work, Mercy: a dance for the forgotten, opened to a sell out audience. Performed by Australia’s Tasdance, Mercy left the audience overwhelmed by its mix of powerful messages and ethereal dance teamed with the beautiful choral work Marian Vespers by 18th century Italian composer, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.

Audiences packed into the Wanaka Masonic Lodge for the first performances of HATCH or The Plight of the Penguins. Singing, dancing and standing ovations marked the first performance of the New Zealand Army Band in Luggate Hall and the Old Cheese Factory in Arrowtown hosted Playing Miss Havisham. The evening closed with a capacity crowd in the Infinity Crystal Palace listening to Ireland’s premier jazz and blues singer, Mary Coughlan.

“From the technicolour sound of Tuffery to the pain and beauty of Mercy. From the crafty cunning of Hatch to the full blooded sound of the New Zealand Army Band – the Festival got off to a mighty start,” said festival director Philip Tremewan. “These were works of real substance and class.”

Highlights for Wednesday’s programme include Celtic band Eilean Mor, But is it art? with Michel Tuffery and John Reynolds, more performances of HATCH, New Zealand Army Band and Playing Miss Havisham and a sell out performance from the Windy City Strugglers. For further information, visit www.festivalofcolour.co.nz.

ENDS

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