Graduates in 'La Boheme' chorus for season

University of Otago music graduates (from left) Sam Butter, Matt Wilson, Ben Madden and Clinton...
University of Otago music graduates (from left) Sam Butter, Matt Wilson, Ben Madden and Clinton Fung have landed parts in New Zealand Opera's professional production of La Boheme. Photo supplied.
Having just finished their singing degrees at the University of Otago, four young graduates were encouraged by their singing teacher to try for the chorus of the NZ Opera professional production of La Boheme, which is rehearsing for its Canterbury season this month.

''If we're going to start a career we thought, well, we had better start a career instead of sitting around doing nothing,'' says Ben Madden, one of the four.

Two years ago the young singers were involved in The Marriage of Figaro with Opera Otago ''but this is a different calibre, we get paid!'' Madden said.

''We're all couch-surfing, we're not doing it for the money.''

As temporary members of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus, they also get to mix with some of New Zealand's most successful opera exports, who have been drawn home for a production that has a 90% Kiwi cast. The chorus is cast as a neighbourhood of students and artists in Paris, 2014.

La Boheme plays on July 15, 16 and 18, 7.30pm, at the CBS Canterbury Arena.

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