Anna Leese to lead Takiri Ensemble in Waikanae

Internationally acclaimed soprano Anna Leese will be returning to sing for the Waikanae Music Society on Sunday 30 August. Two years ago she charmed her Waikanae audience with a solo recital, but this time she will be leading the Takiri Ensemble - a vocal ensemble of New Zealand colleagues.

Anna’s impressive successes to date include her debut at the 2006 BBC Proms and a number of opera gala concerts with Jose Carreras. She has sung at Covent Garden and has performed for the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Köln; Flanders Opera and Opera Holland Park and our own New Zealand Opera. Currently based in Tuscany, Anna recent successes include La bohème at the Royal Albert Hall, a Wigmore Hall recital, Brahms' Requiem with St Thomas's Choral Society in London and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni for New Zealand Opera.

Anna will be joined by mezzo soprano Bianca Andrew, a finalist in the most recent Lexus Song Quest, who is currently studying opera at the the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Tenor Andrew Glover has sung many roles with the New Zealand Opera and has performed with orchestras in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Baritone Robert Tucker has worked professionally with opera companies in Japan, New Zealand and England. Accompanying will be pianist Kirsten Simpson who has vast experience including performances with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Sir Howard Morrison, and Hayley Westenra.

The Takiri Ensemble will perform an engaging programme of favourite lieder by
Schubert and Schumann, followed by some New Zealand works and a selection of songs by the great English composers Britten and Vaughan Williams.

The concert, in the Waikanae Memorial Hall, starts at 2.30pm. Door sales will be available and tickets can be purchased at Waikanae New World, Moby Dickens Books (Paraparaumu Beach) and at Lush Design Gallery in Raumati. Enquiries are welcome on 04 905 6070.