An upcoming Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) performance was on the brink of being cancelled until an eleventh hour performer stepped in. Now APO is pleased to announce that Diva will go ahead on Thursday 12 July. 

After APO’s original diva Debrah Voight had to undergo emergency hip surgery, Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Brewer will appear in Voigt’s stead. Named by BBC Music magazine as one of the 20 greatest sopranos of the recorded era, Brewer was declared a “superlative Strauss singer” by the New York Times and is admired around the world for her range, golden tone, power and control.

Christine Brewer’s many acclaimed recordings include Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Wagner’s Liebestod with Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony; Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, also with Runnicles; Strauss’s Ariadne on Naxos in English for Chandos; and Mahler’s Symphony No.8 with Sir Simon Rattle for EMI. Christine Brewer was also chosen to record the opening disc in Hyperion’s ‘Complete Strauss Lieder’ series, a project that has garnered overwhelming praise.

“With busy international artist schedules, to secure an artist of Christine Brewer’s stature at short notice is almost more than we could have hoped for and speaks volumes about the regard with which the APO is held around the world,” says Barbara Glaser, APO chief executive. “She is one of the great singers of our time and her recent reviews confirm her to be at her peak.

“No one likes to lose a world-class artist at short notice but there are times you fall on your feet. We are extremely pleased that this is one of those times, and look forward to a
wonderful concert.”

NB: The 12 July concert features a small repertoire change to the advertised programme. In place of Strauss’s ‘Frühlingsfeier’, Ms Brewer performs ‘Wiegenlied’.

Christine Brewer with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra plays at the Auckland Town Hall on Thursday 12 July. Pick up a ticket by visiting www.buytickets.co.nz.