'I just about lost my voice'

Jonathan Lemalu relaxes in the Octagon yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Jonathan Lemalu relaxes in the Octagon yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
The Otago rugby team nearly ruined internationally-acclaimed opera singer Jonathan Lemalu's homecoming concert in Dunedin tonight.

''I got so excited watching the Ranfurly Shield game that I just about lost my voice. It was just fantastic. I couldn't believe it,'' the bass-baritone and Otago rugby fan said yesterday.

''There are Dunedin people all over the globe and the moment that whistle blew there were people around the world yelling O-TAAA-GO.''

Lemalu will make a rare appearance in Dunedin tonight, performing with the RSA Choir in the Dunedin Town Hall.

His parents, Foalima and Tasi, still live in Dunedin and the concert will include a duet featuring the bass-baritone and his father, Foalima, who is a long-standing member of the choir.

''It's really nice to be able to give something back, especially to the RSA Choir, which has a long history of helping young singers. So many people in Dunedin helped me get started and it feels good to be able to do something in return,'' Lemalu said.

''Some of the RSA Choir members have been there so long that they remember when Otago last held the Ranfurly Shield,'' he added, with a trademark chuckle.

Lemalu (37) has lived in London for the past 10 years, with his wife, Croatian mezzo-soprano Sandra Martinovic, and their 5-year-old son, Josh.

He returned to New Zealand last week to perform in the New Zealand Opera production of Don Giovanni in Christchurch.

''I always love coming home to Dunedin and seeing family and friends and it was too good an opportunity to miss, as it's just down the road from Christchurch.''

He returns to London later this week, for upcoming concert and recording engagements in London and New York.

RSA Choir chairman David More yesterday said: ''We're thrilled and honoured that Jonathan wanted to sing with us again.''

''I think we gave him his first professional engagement, for about $20. We're very proud of that. It was Jonathan's idea to perform with us again and we're all very excited about it.''

The 7.30pm concert will also feature the combined Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools' choir, Barock, and the University of Otago ukelele group, Uni Ukes.

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