International opera singer Simon O'Neill has performed in some of the most famous theatres of the world, The Royal Opera House, The Metropolitan Opera and La Scala, to name a few. Rebecca Fox talks to the Dunedin-trained tenor about returning to the city to perform with his old brass band.
Treading the boards of major international stages as an opera star is a far cry from playing the tuba in Dunedin's St Kilda Brass Band.
But University of Otago alumnus Simon O'Neill has very fond memories of his days in Dunedin, as a student in the early 1990s and visiting grandparents as he grew up.
So much so, the prospect of performing with his old orchestra weighs more heavily on him than some of his major international gigs.
''I'm more nervous; I want to do a good show for everyone,'' he said from Auckland after returning from a two-month stint in Houston with its Grand Opera.
He is squeezing the concert in between performing Die Walküre (Act 1) with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in Korea and heading back to the United States to perform.
O'Neill is in demand around the world and noted for his signature role as Siegmund in Die Walküre.
''I've always dreamed of being a professional musician ... now I travel the world singing opera. I fly my way around the world 20 times a year.''
University of Otago head of classical performance Prof Terence Dennis, a mentor to O'Neill, said it was an ''extraordinary achievement for a boy from Ashburton to have come so far in international recognition'', having appeared in the world's finest opera houses and concert halls, ''with some of the greatest conductors and orchestras of our time''.
At extremely short notice O'Neill made his debut in the title role of Verdi's Othello in concert at the Barbican with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2009.
Critics described his portrayal of Othello as ''thrilling'', ''a triumph'', ''a tremendous debut in the title-role, giving notice that he is the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade''.
He has performed as Siegmund in every major opera house in the world: Teatro alla Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Berlin Götz Friedrich Deutsche Opera, as well as in Vienna and Hamburg.
''To get up on stage at The Met and have the audience really happy with your performance is a really wonderful thing.''
His favourite venue is the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, where he has sung several major title roles, including Jenik in The Bartered Bride with Sir Charles Mackerras.
''My specialty is Wagner - German romantic music of the late 19th century. The great thing is that music needs wonderful brass playing.''
This kept alive his passion for brass music, which began when he was about 8 and continued as he grew up, alongside other music interests. He also played the piano and church organ and was involved in jazz and rock bands and choirs in his teenage years.
But it was not until he came to the University of Otago to study for a bachelor of music degree that he really discovered his voice.
''I started singing late, in my late teens. I was always in a band, a pianist, all my years at high school. I started my singing training at the university. I loved it.''
His first big role was as Monostatos in the Magic Flute in a university production honouring the bicentenary of Mozart's death, followed by a production of The Pirates of Penzance with Jud Arthur at the Mayfair theatre.
''We were pirates in that, hilarious. It was just brilliant.''
He was invited to join the St Kilda Brass Band, one of the top bands in the country, which he took as an honour, and started playing the E-flat bass (tuba).
''When I got there, there was this perfect storm of talent; the players were second to none in the country.''
As well as an outlet for playing music, it also provided him with a ready-made social life and some members are still among his best friends today, he said.
''I was a very average player but I absolutely loved it. It was my life for those four years.''
Being part of the band's winning bid in the 1992 A grade Brass Band Championships was a memory he treasured.
''It still goes down as one of the top things I've ever done in my life. I've opened at La Scala, The Met and Covent Garden. All these famous theatres - I giggle sometimes thinking about it - winning the A grade championship with my band, it's up there as one of the top things I've been involved with.''
The talent of brass bands in New Zealand was of major international quality, he said.
Travelling the world is his life now, although he and his wife have decided to base their lives in Auckland in an effort to give their three young children a similar life to what Ashburton-raised O'Neill remembers.
''It's lovely to live in London or New York. I've done that. What I had here is way superior to over there.''
He has kept his London abode as a European base for his regular visits to work.
''So dad hops on a plane to go to work. I miss them terribly but technology - face time and Skype - makes it easier.''
No matter where he is in the world or whatever the time is, come breakfast time in New Zealand he will be at a computer chatting with his children.
''I'm there even though I'm not. It works, it's pretty cool.''
He believes University of Otago students should be inspired by the success of many of the university's alumni, such as Jonathan Lemalu and Tecwyn Evans.
''We have real international careers, that's pretty cool.''
O'Neill credits support from the university as playing a big part in his career, especially that of Prof Dennis, who partnered him as a pianist on many occasions, including his first appearances as a tenor as a Mobil Song Quest finalist, soon after his move to New York to attend the Manhattan School of Music.
''He has been a mentor to me. He has always been there to support me.''
Prof Dennis was present at his ''significant international debuts'', at London's Royal Opera House as tenor lead in Smetana's Bartered Bride, his New York Metropolitan Opera debut as Siegmund in Wagner's Walküre, and his debut at the Bayreuth Wagner Festival as Lohengrin, when he assumed the lead role for indisposed tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
''I also saw him singing in Mozart's Magic Flute at the Salzburg Festival in the 250th anniversary year of the composer's birth, 2006,'' Prof Dennis said.
O'Neill also trained at the Juilliard Opera Centre, is a Fulbright Scholar, was awarded the 2005 Arts Laureate of New Zealand and was a grand finalist in the 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, returning as guest artist in 2007.
Grammy nominated, his recordings include his debut solo award-winning album Father and Son.
The Dunedin concert will feature pieces from his international work, ''the big opera stuff'', as well as some of his favourite songs and operatic show tunes alongside work to showcase the band's skills.
''Singing this stuff with my old brass band is fantastic. I can't wait.''
