Upbeat for Thursday 14 July 2016

13.00 The things we do for love

Phillip Rhodes and Madeleine Pierard in La Traviata Photo: Neil MacKenzie

Coming home from the UK for his first performance in Verdi's La Traviata, is baritone Phillip Rhodes. He's had a hectic twelve months since last year’s star turn as Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca for New Zealand Opera and now has to age up to play the older Germont opposite Madeleine Pierard as Violetta. New Zealand Opera's La Traviata opens in Christchurch tonight. 

13.25  Curious Thinkers

Tim Earl as Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Photo: Supplied

Susan Haldane has developed a course for parents, teachers, and others who interact with teenagers who think differently. Her workshop series, Mind Over Manner, is designed to teach strategies to cope with the stressful situations that can develop interacting with young people with learning difficulties caused by  Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, or  OCD.  Curious Thinkers  is a workshop she runs next month in collaboration with Auckland Theatre Company’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.    

13.40 A choral collaboration

Sally Rosenberg from Hamilton City Choir Photo: Supplied

A new collaboration between the Hamilton Civic Choir and the University of Waikato School of Music is allowing young voices to soar. Students of Dame Malvina Major’s vocal program gain experience performing with the choir and orchestra, and in turn the choir and musicians benefit from working with top soloists. Sally Rosenberg explains more.