Festival: from stumbling baby giraffe to world repute

So, that's it. The Otago Festival of the Arts has been packed up and popped back in the garage for another two years.

What started life in 2000 with all the confidence and co-ordination of a newly born giraffe has become Otago's most important arts and culture showcase.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa illustrated the respect the festival has gained internationally when asked why she had agreed to perform here.

"I've heard good things about the festival. So when they asked, I said 'Yes'."

The 2012 festival will have a new chairman and director.

Chairman Paul Dallimore and director Nicholas McBryde will both be stepping aside once all the confetti has been swept up.

I grabbed the last rays of the festival sun yesterday with Shall We Gather at the River at the Globe Theatre and Gin Wigmore at the Regent Theatre (the first sell-out since Dunedin Operatic's Les Miserables in 2001).

Here are some of my highlights over the past 10 days.

Funniest moment: The look on Radio New Zealand host Eva Radich's face when her live broadcast in the Octagon with Opera Otago singers was interrupted by the buzz saw of bagpipes.

Best play: Le Sud was very clever and very New Zealand.

Best Dunedin production: The Line Dances film by Good Company Arts was simply world class.

Best solo performance: I couldn't separate pianist Michael Houstoun in his St Paul's Cathedral at One concert and Hungarian cimbalom player Jeno Farkas at the Regent Theatre.

Most innovative work: Java Dance Company's Back of the Bus caught the public imagination and sold out all services.

Touching moment #1: At the end of the Dhol Foundation concert members of Whanau Kotahi performed a haka.

The haka usually leaves me pretty cold these days, but this one made the hair stand up on the neck.

Best production: Opera Otago's L'Orfeo at the Mayfair Theatre was absolutely stunning.

Act I regret missing: The Kransky Sisters were hilarious. Apparently.

Silver Fox Award: Max Cryer had them in the palm of his hand at St Paul's Cathedral.

Most dramatic production: The Butler served up a visual feast at the Regent Theatre.

The play that made me think: One Day in the St Paul's Cathedral crypt was a powerful and compelling piece of theatre.

Biggest disappointment: Christchurch-based Southern Lights Dance Company having to cancel its performances of 2010 as a result of the earthquake.

The "Whoops" Award: Dame Kiri's town hall concert on Saturday night was blighted by the racket of wine glasses being kicked over and rolling around the wooden floor.

The Dedication to the Arts Award: Heat actor Byron Coll, who appeared naked and body-painted as an emperor penguin.

Poignant moment: The world premiere of Anthony Ritchie's Symphony No 3 felt like the birth of a child.

Best concert: Antal Szalai and his Gypsy Band were heartwarming, humorous and Hungarian.

Close second: The Montreal Guitar Trio were magnificent in the Glenroy Auditorium, too.

Loudest concert: The Dhol Foundation reach 106 decibels with their drums.

I was talking to a woman on Thursday who was still complaining of sore ears - six days after the concert.

Green Award: Heat at the Settlers Festival Theatre was an eye-opener in more ways than one.

The play was solely powered by solar panels and a wind turbine.

Touching moment #2: Antal Szalai and his Gypsy Band playing Pokarekare Ana as an encore and the Regent Theatre singing along. Special.

Arohanui Award: To Louise Potiki-Bryant, her 84-year-old Auntie Rona Williamson and Taonga: Dust, Water, Wind.

- nigel.benson@odt.co.nz