YOUNG sopranos Bryony Williams (left) and Grace Park, show that the songs of old masters Handel, Mozart and Verdi are not just for the aged.
They are among the six finalists competing in Wellington this week in the Lexus Song Quest – an event famous for launching the careers of Dame Malvina Major and Kiri Te Kanawa – who are all under 25, making them the youngest group of finalists in many years.
Bryony and Grace believe this shows opera is becoming more accessible to young New Zealanders, and is not just for their parents’ generation.
Grace (21) (below), who studies music at Otago University, says more people are now discovering classical music through YouTube.
“There’s a growing media accessibility, so more people can listen to great music,” she says. “Appreciation of classical music isn’t seen as so ‘different’ any more. It can be enjoyed at any age.”
Bryony (23), who recently graduated from the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington, says opera is definitely becoming more popular.
“Opera performances are more modern, and there’s a bigger focus on the dramatic. It’s much more relatable to young people. My friends come to watch me sing, and they love it.”
Both singers have a life-long passion for classical music, and have been singing since primary school age.
They have gone from singing in choirs as teenagers, to performing lead roles in famous operas by Handel and Mozart at University.
For Bryony, who has just returned from studying Italian in Florence, auditioning for the Lexus Song Quest was a natural progression in her young career.
“I thought it’d be stupid not to give it a crack,” says Bryony (right), who was inspired to enter while working as an usher at the Lexus Song Quest final in 2009.
“I had a poster of Malvina Major from when she won in 1963 on my bedroom wall, so it always seemed like this massive, untouchable competition. So, if you have the opportunity to audition, then why not?”
In total, 56 singers auditioned, with applications coming in from New Zealanders based all over the world.
The judges selected 12 semi-finalists, whose operatic pieces were recorded on Radio New Zealand’s Concert programme. This was no big deal for Grace, who previously recorded CDs as part of a fundraising concert.
She was pleasantly surprised to be selected as a finalist.
“I didn’t expect to make it this far. I did my best, but I never pressured myself,” says Grace, who recently played Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro.
“I was never relying on a phone call from the judges. I feel very fortunate.”
At Thursday’s Grand Final, the finalists will sing three pieces – one accompanied by piano, and two with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Slovak operatic conductor Oliver von Dohnányi.
They will be singing for a $10,000 cash prize, a $15,000 study grant and return international airfares.
Lexus Song Quest production co-ordinator Christine Pearce says winning the competition, which started in 1956, is a significant achievement in the competitive field of opera.
“The winner’s name will go up there with Kiri and Malvina. They will become part of the legend,” she says.
Christine says it has been a privilege to work with Grace, Bryony and their fellow competitors.
“The standard of entries this year was so high – so if you make it as one of the six finalists, you’ve got something special.”
Bryony and Grace will compete alongside countertenor Stephen Diaz (24), tenor Amitai Pati (22), bass baritone Kawiti Waetford (21) and tenor Alexander Wilson (21).
The final will be held at the Michael Fowler Centre on this Thursday, August 30. Tickets are available from Ticketek.
