Record crowd faces the music

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Tenor Simon O'Neill and soprano Anna Leese offer a toast to the crowd while singing Libiam Ne'liti Calici from La Triviata.

Jennine Bailey performs during Satuday's Opera in the Park concert.

The Tahunanui crowd settles in for the Opera in the Park concert.

Simon O'Neill and Anna Leese peform a duet.

Stu Buchanan accompanies Whirimako Black.

The Tasman Brass Ensemble; Alice Rudhall, Mike Ford, Simon Taylor, Chris Lawton and Steve Rudhall (right)

Mick Dowrick leads the Nelson City Brass Band.

Wellington Vector Orchestra conductor Hamish McKeich watches Whirimako Black perform.

Andy MacDonald of Emac Security tends the backstage gate.

Nelson's Got Talent winner Jason Chasland got a rapturous welcome from his hometown crowd.

National Academy singers providing backup vocals.

Jane Miles of Richmond brought eighty-five year old birthday girl and mum Claire Miles, also of Richmond, to Saturday evening's Opera in the Park.

Synchronised pyrotechnics accompanied the tune of Bolero to as a fitting finale to the evening's entertainment.

Eleven year old Sadie Thornicroft (left) and twelve year old Katjana Bauer-Eden, both of Nelson, during Saturday evening's concert.

Tenor Simon O'Neill buys a table from Pam Lucas' Wood Works Wonders stall.

Jennine Bailey on stage during Satuday evening's concert.

Compere Katrina Smith on the big screen.

Marie Brown of Ruby Bay (right) provides refreshments for friends Phyllis Schwass of Richmond (left) and Carolyn Robinson of Mapua (centre)

Jane de Feu, Richard Nunns and Whirimako Black open Saturday evening's Opera in the Park concert.

Marie Brown of Ruby Bay (right) pours wine for friends Phyllis Schwass of Richmond (left) and Carolyn Robinson of Mapua (centre).

Rob Kearon of Golden Bay catches up on the news as the crowd settles in for Saturday evening's Opera in the Park.

Wellington Vector Orchestra conductor Hamish McKeich gets the players up for a bow.

The Mazure family of Richmond arrive early with a wagon loaded with gear.

Whirimako Black combined Jazz and traditional Maori songs.

Soprano Anna Leese performs.

Ann Karlsson of Tapawera takes a snapshot.

The end of show fireworks light up the sky.

Richard Nunns and Whirimako Black perform Saturday evening's Opera in the Park in the Tahunanui Domain.

Fireworks were specially adapted to not disturb the animals at Natureland.

Stu Buchanan accompanies Jennine Bailey.

Nola Mills performs a harmonica solo.

Nelson girls Iris Garstang, 7, and Georgia Merry, 8, brought their dolls up close to the stage.

Hamish McKeich watches Whirimako Black perform during Saturday evening's Opera in the Park.

Wellington Vector Orchestra Hamish McKeich in action,

Katrina Smith was compere for the evening's entertainment.

Hollie Smith hits a high note.

Saxophonist Stu Buchanan.

Richard Nunns and Whirimako Black perform

Tenor Simon O'Neill performs at Opera in the Park 2010

Hollie Smith's performance had the Tahunanui crowd enthralled.

Leanne Addison of Nelson tries on a hat in Rhonda Mowat's Crowning Glory stall

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A record-breaking crowd equalling almost a quarter of Nelson City's population streamed into Tahunanui on Saturday evening to watch some of New Zealand's top musical artists perform under a picture perfect sky.

A drizzly morning, which gave organisers and sponsors a bit of a panic, passed, and an estimated 15,000-plus crowd was drawn to the free BioPaints Opera in the Park.

An Opera in the Park featuring Dame Kiri Te Kanawa two years ago attracted about 12,000 people and a Super 12 rugby match between the Canterbury Crusaders and the Queensland Reds in 2005 had an estimated 15,500 spectators.

BioPaints owner and new sponsor for the event Tony Mount said the evening had worked out exactly as he had hoped.

"It was a bit heart-stopping with the weather this morning, but I was assured it would be fine and it was."

Mr Mount said he wanted to continue sponsoring the event in a similar way, but also wanted to widen its appeal to as many people as possible.

"I knew that people would come who normally wouldn't give it a go and I am sure there were people here tonight that were not opera fans, but hopefully they will come back next year."

The audience settled in quickly with little fuss, though it took almost two hours to entirely clear the entrances.

The experience of waiting in a queue was something foreign to some.

"It is a little bit of a wait but it means it is just a popular event; you can't grizzle too much.

"I have been to events in Europe which have a real wait," said Pam Peters, of Stoke.

By the time the first major number kicked off at about 7.30pm most of the crowd were on deck chairs or rugs tucking in to their wine and picnics.

Harmonica player Nola Mills said it was the biggest audience she had ever played to and her husband had even asked her if she was nervous.

As the sun sank across the Nelson sky, tenor Simon O'Neill belted out Puccini's famous Nessun Dorma.

Gayle Heine, of Nelson, said the setting and the music made it "the best spot in the city".

Nelson City Council festival producer Sophie Kelly said the rain had meant an hour delay in organisation, but the crew had come together to make sure everything went off without any fuss.

She said organisers would continue to get feedback from the public, but from their perspective it was an overriding success.

An accurate audience number will not be known until tomorrow, but Ms Kelly said it seemed to be a great crowd.

Issues such as parking and traffic did not become a major problem as there were adequate parking spaces and many people decided to use the free bus service or walk, she said.

Donations at the concert for the Hearing Association of New Zealand had not been counted, but association president John Ward said it was a successful evening.

Tony Schraufnagel, who came with his wife and three children, said the sunshine had been one of the night's major success.

"This type of event never fails when you have the kind of weather that unfolded. I thought the worst of things this morning, but now it is great to have a contained place where the kids can just run around."

Musical director Pete Rainey said he was trying to push the programme in a different direction with more contemporary music, which the crowd seemed to respond to.

The crowd fell into silent appreciation as jazz singer Whirimako Black and Nelson musician Richard Nunns played Taku Rakau. It was an entirely different appreciation when diva Hollie Smith launched into Bathe in the River with full orchestral backing.

Vector Wellington Orchestra conductor Hamish McKeich said he enjoyed leading his musicians through the various styles of music.

"The variation is always a challenge and to mix it up is a lot of fun and the orchestra enjoys it as well."

The evening was capped off by Simon O'Neill and soprano Anna Leese with a toast to the crowd while singing Libiamo Ne'lieti Calici from La Traviata.

"What a fabulous night, it has been absolutely wonderful," Mr O'Neill said sipping from a glass of local chardonnay.

The audience was then invited to turn around to see a "lyrical" fireworks display to the tune of Bolero, which had been adapted to be kind to the nearby Natureland animals.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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G   #6   09:59 am Feb 16 2010

Wonderful event completely ruined by some idiot in a kilt barging into a group of young Asian women sitting next to us and telling them that if they continued to take photos he would "shove your camera up your A***"!!!!

They were doing no harm. They were not filming the event, just taking a couple of group photos.

I wonder what impression of Nelson they left with...

Bevan   #5   07:34 pm Feb 15 2010

Well done Bio Paints, Tony and Kaye Mount great event and ''Free' for all to enjoy, NCC for allowing the ground to be used, the lighting and the sound was great, what a spectacular event for Nelson, also the weather kept us proud.

Lorraine   #4   06:15 pm Feb 15 2010

A wonderful evening with some amazing performers. However, the event was advertised as 'Opera in the Park' and the thing missing was Opera! Can we either be excited about going to see 'Opera in the park' or 'Music in the park'? Thankyou to the event organisers

David   #3   03:50 pm Feb 15 2010

Hey Jim - why so grumpy? It was a great night and from the stage it certainly looked like at least that many people:)

charles   #2   03:19 pm Feb 15 2010

15,000 plus tickets were collected at outlets but a final count of how many of those who collected tickets actually attended is yet to come out.

Jim   #1   02:32 pm Feb 15 2010

It always amazes me how you can say 'a record breaking crowd' etc!! For a start, it's 'estimated'. It's like saying that Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile record because those watching 'estimated' he did! Secondly, what method did your reporter use to 'estimate'????!!!!!

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