Never too young for opera

BABY Grace Gower was a hit with New Zealand opera icon Dame Kiri Te Kanawa when mother Alice Gower attended Auckland’s Opera factory three day opera workshop. TC301008SP01

Two Te Awamutu sopranos have been able to mix opera and motherhood recently with outstanding results.

Te Awamutu Courier recently featured Angela Rumping on November 9 when she was awarded a Waikato University Blue, alongside husband Michael, for the arts. At that time she was preparing to compete at the National Young Performer Awards in Tauranga—and at eight-and-a-half months pregnant finished second.

Te Awamutu soprano Alice Gower was one of 30 who applied and was accepted to sing at the three day opera workshop over Labour Weekend with the who’s who of New Zealand opera. The coaches were very accommodating and Mrs Gower’s husband Marcus brought their sevenmonth-old baby Grace in for regular feeds and a sneaky listen to the divas during coaching sessions.

The Opera Factory in Auckland was buzzing with energy and excitement to be hosting Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Helen Medlyn, Rosemary Barnes and Terence Dennis — all there to coach up and coming New Zealand opera singers. The workshops included vocal preparation and performance, acting and stagecraft, choice of repertoire, characterisation and interpretation, and a lot of valuable advice for anyone with their heart set on a career in opera. The three days concluded with a public masterclass in front of a full house of enthusiastic opera fans.

Mrs Gower says all the coaches are leaders in their fields, but being coached by Dame Kiri and Dame Malvina in particular was an amazing opportunity.

‘‘Just being able to hear singers of their calibre and vast experience demonstrating how to sing phrases was incredibly inspiring,’’ she says.

Mrs Gower has a Masters in Music with First Class Honours from Waikato University and sings regularly in opera, oratorio, and concerts in New Zealand. She worked with Dame Kiri and Dame Malvina on two arias, ‘Vissi d’arte’ from Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ and ‘Come Scoglio’ from Mozart’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutti’.

The family was privileged to be allowed to sit in on Dame Kiri and Dame Malvina’s early morning vocal warm ups during the weekend, and Grace even had a cuddle with Dame Kiri! The workshop was great preparation for Mrs Gower for the New Zealand Aria competition to be held in Rotorua this weekend.

RUNNER UP FOR MUM TO BE

With a baby due Friday the last thing Mrs Rumping needs is pressure, but the young soprano took it all in her stride to come second at the national awards.

On day one 19 of the country’s top young classical singers, all aged between 18 and 25, sang a programme of three songs, including German lieder, opera arias, and art songs.

‘‘Late that night the six semifinalists were announced and on Sunday afternoon, we sang our entire recital programmes again,’’ she says. ‘‘I was named as one of the three finalists soon after, and then it was almost straight into rehearsal for the finals that same night. The weekend is a bit like a marathon for competitors.’’

She had been a semi-finalist at the awards two years ago, so was thrilled with second place this year, especially considering the added challenge of being eight-and-a-half months pregnant. She won $3000 and a MAZDA Foundation Tuition Scholarship.

‘‘This event is a well recognised competition, and it helps provide exposure for successful young emerging performers, as well as providing tuition scholarships for ongoing training,’’ she says.

Mrs Rumping has just completed her Bachelor of Music (Honours) at Waikato University in voice performance. She already teaches singing and speech and drama in Te Awamutu and intends to continue teaching when her baby is born.

‘‘Next year I hope to do my Masters of Music,’’ she says. ‘‘I need to keep singing and performing, and keep a strong motivation to get up and practise, even at the end of a long day. Otherwise I’ll keep up my training with a private teacher and continue working towards more major competitions and singing engagements around the country. So hopefully it’ll all work out—the study, looking after the new baby and my current teaching,’’ she says.