Otago Festival of the Arts director Nicholas McBryde
prepares for his final hurrah at the festival launch in the
Glenroy Auditorium in Dunedin last night. Photo by Gerard
O'Brien.
The 2010 Otago Festival of the Arts would be a 10-day
roller-coaster ride of world-class performances, festival
director Nicholas McBryde said last night.
"There are eight different pieces of theatre, five dance
works and 14 music events," Mr McBryde said at the programme
launch in the Glenroy Auditorium in Dunedin.
"It's been two years in the making and the preparation is all
in place. There's a real sense of achievement that we've got
something very special and we're already seeing a groundswell
of anticipation at the line-up. Interest is really high. Now
it's time to get it out there and get ready to start the
party."
Some of the highlights include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in recital, the Dhol
Foundation, a Mike Nock and Michael Houstoun piano duet, the
Kransky Sisters, Le Sud and the Loons Circus Company's
The Butler.
The world premiere of Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie's Symphony No 3 will have special
significance for Mr McBryde.
As the Dunedin Sinfonia general manager 20 years ago, he
commissioned Ritchie's first symphony when the composer was
University of Otago Mozart fellow.
"That will be very special and I'm very proud that we're
doing that. Anthony is a world-class composer who lives in
Dunedin and it's fabulous to be showcasing something like
that.
"Over the past six festivals, the breadth of acts we've had
has been remarkable. We've had things that would never
usually come to Otago," Mr McBryde said.
This year's festival will have an added poignancy, as it will
be the last one for both Mr McBryde and chairman Paul
Dallimore, who have been involved since the biennial festival
started in 2000.
The 2010 Otago Festival of the Arts runs from October 8 to
17.
- nigel.benson@odt.co.nz
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