Renowned international heldentenor Simon O’Neill will join forces with highly respected accompanist Terence Dennis for a gala concert in celebration of the School of Performing Arts’ centenary.

Hosted by the Wagner Society, the recital will be held August 30, from 3pm-5pm at Hanover Hall and will feature German masterworks.

A New Zealander, Simon O’Neill is known as one of the finest heldentenors on the international stage and frequently performs at the great opera houses of Europe.

A heldentenor has an especially powerful and resonant voice, ideal for singing roles in operas by German composers such as Wagner, which require strength and stamina.

Prof Terence Dennis is the head of classical performance studies at the University of Otago and is considered one of the country’s top pianists and accompanists.

O’Neill’s recital with Prof Dennis was released internationally on the Decca label in 2019.

The gala concert programme will feature Schumann’s Dichterliebe/Poet’s Love song cycle along with arias and scenes from Wagner’s operas.

O’Neill is returning to New Zealand from Europe this month for a series of performances marking the 20th anniversary of his performance in the title role of Wagner’s opera Parsifal in Wellington — the role which helped launch his international career.

With the support of the Wagner Society of New Zealand, O’Neill is performing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Wellington and Auckland, before coming to Dunedin for the gala recital celebrating the 100th anniversary of the School of Performing Arts.

brenda.harwood@thestar.co.nz