Turbo-charged tenor lends voice to help deaf children speak

October 26, 2012

“Turbo-charged tenor” lends his voice to help deaf children speak

The Hearing House children’s charity is delighted to announce that internationally acclaimed opera singer Simon O’Neill will feature at an opulent fundraising gala dinner at Auckland’s Langham Hotel in December. O’Neill is currently performing the role of Siegmund in Wagner’s Die Walkure at Covent Garden in London and will perform in Berlin and Tokyo before flying back to New Zealand in late November. International media have described him as a “turbo-charged tenor” and The Telegraph has said he is “the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade”.

Born in Ashburton, O’Neill is a principal artist with both Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and perhaps the world’s most famous opera house La Scala in Milan, Italy, and is booked up years in advance. He is donating his talents for free for A Magical Evening With Simon O’Neill and Friends on Saturday December 1. The Hearing House’s chief executive Scott Johnston says he is thrilled that Simon and a very talented line-up of singers will help raise funds for deaf children with cochlear implants and hearing aids.

“The Hearing House provides free therapy so that deaf children can hear and speak and it’s simply fabulous that someone of Simon’s calibre is happy to lend his voice so we can continue to provide free services to deaf children and their families.”

Also singing at the gala dinner are Christchurch’s Amanda Winfield, Wellington-based Jared Holt, Ben Makisi, Cameron Barclay, Elisha Fa’i-Hulton of Rotorua, Sopranos Tizane McEvoy and Tamsyn Miller who are based in Auckland will also be performing. And internationally acclaimed pianist Stephen De Pledge, formerly based in London, will be the accompanist. All performers, like Simon, are donating their time for free to help The Hearing House and The Great Operatunities Trust – which mentors young singers – raise funds on the evening.

Tickets for the gala concert and dinner at The Langham Auckland’s Great Room are $225 each or $2000 for a table of 10 people and includes the concert, a three-course dinner and all beverages. Please phone The Hearing House on 09 579 2333 or The Great Operatunities Trust on 0508 266 237 or email concertsadmin@operatunity.co.nz for ticket sales or more details.

For more information visit www.hearinghouse.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media