A time to reflect
Egyptian opera singer and former Arabic Mickey
Mouse
Ashraf Sewailam to perform free recital in
Christchurch
Monday 24 June, 2019 – Egyptian Bass-Baritone Ashraf Sewailam will perform a recital at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch on Sunday 4 August. The programme will also feature acclaimed local soprano Amanda Atlas, with both singers accompanied by New Zealand Opera’s Director of Music Wyn Davies.
Sewailam, who is currently in New Zealand performing in New Zealand Opera’s The Barber of Seville, will step out of his comic role of Don Basilio for an afternoon designed to inspire reflection and hope.
“Like many others all around the world I was deeply affected by the events in Christchurch on 15 March and wanted to show my support for the Muslim community,” Sewailam said.
“As an artist, the best thing I have to offer is my voice, and I’m so glad to be able to perform this concert while I’m in Christchurch for The Barber of Seville.
“I was deeply touched by the response of both people and government to the tragedy. What resonated with me the most was that such response made apparent how this beautiful country embraces pluralism and inclusion of all its residents and citizens regardless of colour or creed. It’s what made me feel the need to contribute by singing.”
“I will sing Brahms’ Vier ernste Gesänge or Four Serious Songs, and also several traditional songs from my homeland Egypt, that I hope will provide a fitting tribute to those who were lost, and comfort to the audience.”
While admission to the concert is free, audience members will be invited to make a donation to the Our People, Our City fund administered by Victim Support.
A time to reflect
Ashraf Sewailam in
concert
with Amanda Atlas (soprano) and Wyn Davies
(Piano)
Sunday 4 August, 2pm
Christchurch Transitional
Cathedral
Entry by koha
With thanks to
Christchurch Transitional Cathedral for providing the
venue.
Ashraf Sewailam
The New
York Times hailed Ashraf Sewailam’s début at Lincoln
Center’s Avery Fisher Hall as a “stand out
performance” and Opera News described his voice as
“purring and velvety with an easily produced Ramfis-like
top range with a majestic tone,” and his stage presence as
“strong, mysterious and with mesmerizing intensity.”
This season, Mr. Sewailam performed the role of Osmin in
Abduction from the Seraglio and Queequeg in Moby Dick with
Opera San Jose, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro with San Diego
Opera, Colline in La Boheme with Austin Opera, and sings
Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with New Zealand
Opera.
Last season, Mr. Sewailam performed the role of Capitán in Florencia en el Amazonas with Madison Opera, performed Monterone in Rigoletto with Opera Grand Rapids, Toledo Opera, and Opera Carolina, where he also performed Lignieres in Cyrano, and sang a concert entitled Eternal Spirit with Boulder Bach Festival. Additionally, he performed a recital with pianist Kenneth Osowski at York College and sang on a recording of The 13th Child, a new opera by Danish composer Poul Ruders.
Mr. Sewailam was one of Disney's Arabic voice actors, performing roles including Mickey Mouse and Ursula the Sea Witch.
Amanda Atlas
New Zealand
dramatic soprano Amanda embarked on her international career
in 1999, spending ten years singing leading roles for
various opera companies and orchestras in the US and Europe.
She is now based in New Zealand and Australia.
Recent
engagements include Magda Sorel in The Consul (New York);
leading roles with the NZSO and New Zealand Opera; Leonora
in Il trovatore(Melbourne’s CitiOpera); Witch/Mother in
Hansel and Gretel; and in concert - soprano soloist in
Verdi’s Requiem, Bruckner’s F Minor Mass, Strauss’
Four Last Songs; and Mahler’s Second Symphony and
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the CSO.
2016 saw
Amanda make her Opera Australia debut singing Siegrune in
their internationally acclaimed Ring Cycle. She is in
frequent demand as a soloist with touring entity
Operatunity, and is engaged to sing concerts in India in
2019 with the Mumbai Symphony Orchestra and Simon
O’Neill.
Wyn Davies
Wyn Davies
works extensively as a conductor and teacher. He has been
Director of Music of New Zealand Opera since 2005 and was
formerly Director of Music for Carl Rosa Opera. In 2018 he
conducted Candide and The Elixir of Love for NZO. His opera
repertoire includes La traviata, La cenerentola, The Italian
Girl in Algiers (also Scottish Opera), Jenůfa, Falstaff,
Don Giovanni, Don Pasquale (also Tokyo), Kátya Kabanová,
with NZO; La bohème, The Spanish Hour, Gianni Schicchi,
Janáček Cycles (also Scottish Opera), L’incoronazione di
Poppea, Eugene Onegin (Welsh National Opera); The Magic
Flute, The Barber of Seville, The Mikado with English
National Opera; The Cunning Little Vixen, Love Life, Of Thee
I Sing, Show Boat (UK tour) with Royal Shakespeare Company;
The Secret Marriage, The Barber of Seville, Madama
Butterfly, La voix humaine, Dido & Aeneas with Opera North;
Die Fledermaus, Blue Beard, Il turco in Italia, The
Beggar’s Opera (also Lyric Belfast), Veronique with Buxton
Festival. Orchestral engagements include Halle Orchestra,
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales,
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra,
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, A Child of our Time with
the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra
and National Youth
Choir.
ends