There is no other word to describe this event. I went along last night to hear The Valkyrie in Wellington, and it was simply ‘epic’ – it is unbelievable that one person could dream up this drama and set it to music.
On Wednesday 25 July the show reaches Christchurch and the NZSO are offering tickets at ‘Pay Your Age’ prices to anyone under 35. If you are interested in ‘thinking big’ for the evening for less than $35, phone the NZSO on 0800 479 674 before 4.30pm on Tuesday 24th (tomorrow).
The opera was written by Richard Wagner in 1870 and is the opera about the sword being pulled out of a tree, the ride of the Valkyries and a round of fire being ignited around the heroine. The NZSO synopsis can be found here. The NZSO are currently touring their concert performance of Wagner’s The Valkyrie in memory of Wellington businessman and benefactor of the arts, the late Lloyd Morrison. It is well worth the almost 4 hours of opera.
We have also just heard that the NZSO could be axed, and the Ministry of Culture & Heritage are now calling for public submissions on the review. Submissions can be made until 20 August and more information can be found here. Fairfax Media have created a poll in response to the review, asking ‘Would you care if the NZSO was axed?’, you can vote and see the results of the poll here.
On Tuesday morning the Arts, Culture and Heritage Minster Chris Finlayson ruled out getting rid of the NZSO, ‘[t]he NZSO is a jewel in the cultural crown. There is no question of its survival under this Government.’
