Auckland Philharmonia at the Auckland Town Hall

William Dart waxes lyrical about Beethoven's FIDELIO.

Simon O'Neill sang heartbreakingly as Florestan in prison aria.

Beethoven's only opera is the supreme celebration of the invincibility of the human spirit, written for a world that would never be the same after the French Revolution, created by a composer for whom the word compromise did not exist.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's concert performance ended in triumph, hinting at joyous odes yet to be written; the words "Never can be praised too loudly" rang through the town hall and might have applied as much to those responsible for this event, as to Beethoven's heroine.

Erika Sunnegardh was an incandescent Leonore, from nervous young man to loving wife. Emotions mingled in her magnificent Act One aria, most effectively when unmitigated fury was transformed to vibrant optimism.

Simon O'Neill as Florestan was particularly impressive in his prison aria; he sang heartbreakingly remembering better times. Reunited with Leonore in Act Two, he was irrepressible.

This story (above) from the NZ Herald today.

For Bookman Beattie's review yesterday use this link.

Post Script:

In the photographic gossip column FLASH this morning in the NZ Herald the following comment accompanied photographs taken at the post-opera party:

"Highlight-Local living legend Beryl Te Wiata's passionate narration, which had many in the audience spellbound."

I find it astonishing, unbelievable even, that the reporter could rate the Narrator's performance above that of the other artists. I would rank all of the soloists, and the Chapman Tripp Chorus, the orchestra and the conductor ahead of Beryl Te Wiata's performance.

In fact she made several mistakes in her reading of the script which for a professional actress is unforgiveable.