Press Release
It’s A Wrap At The 2009 Festival Of Colour
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LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (May 3, 2009) – Sixty four performances in eight towns and 10 venues, over 12,000 tickets sold
and over half the performances sold out – the third Festival of Colour was declared a resounding success by organisers
and audiences alike.
The final day featured the sell-out world premiere of Mike Nock’s new work, Southern Suite, performed by Michael
Houstoun and Diedre Irons. If the calibre of the music and its performance wasn’t sublime enough, it was further
enhanced by a camera above the keyboard, showing the audience the amazing dynamics of fingers and keys, as performed by
two of New Zealand’s finest pianists.
Earlier in the day, the Sunday Brunch show by Tui Award winners, Delgirl was packed to the gunnels, as was Classics Up
Close, a special classical musical show for youngsters by the New Zealand String Quartet that featured special guests,
the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.
The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra went on to raise the roof of the Infinity Crystal Palace in the final
performance of the week and ending a sell out tour of the region. One of the most extraordinary touches of the evening
was when the New Zealand String Quartet came on stage to play an eclectic mix of ELO, Rossini and The Beatles, returning
the compliment from earlier in the day.
The Aspiring Conversations programme finished with lively debate between Hamish Keith and Minister of Arts, Christopher
Finlayson over the subject, “What use is art?”. Keith likened art to air “we can’t do without it” while Finlayson said,
“The arts are as fundamental as roads, the issue is how do we make sure the arts flourish?” The debate came later when
TVNZ came under fire, together with the hidden gems of Te Papa.
The four Artists at Work, Simon Kaan, Areta Wilkinson, Michel Tuffery and Martin Hill, presented their discoveries and
works for Pouwhenua (markers on the land). Using local flora, imagery and ancient names and texts, the results of their
weeklong project were very diverse. Some, such as Martin Hill’s raupo circle were finished and temporary, others, such
as Areta Wilkinson’s, will use the information they gathered here for ongoing work.
The Festival of Colour will return in April 2011 and was generously supported by Central Lakes Trust, The Community
Trust of Otago, Creative New Zealand, Infinity Investment Group, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Aurora. For
further information visit www.festivalofcolour.co.nz
ENDS