Dame to assist final push

GREAT ACOUSTICS: St Patricks Basilica Restoration trustee Mark Laming announced yesterday Dame Malvina will be returning to perform at the basilica.

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The St Patricks Church Restoration Trust has successfully negotiated the return of Dame Malvina Major to Waimate.

The opera singer has agreed to perform in a concert to be held in the Basilica on November 1, 2008 to help the trust fundraise for the third and final stage of the product.

Dame Malvina last sang in the Basilica in 2005 and at the time intimated that she might return to celebrate the completion of the restoration project, trustee Mark Laming said.

"The first two stages of the project have been completed and it is anticipated that the third and final stage will be completed, subject to successful fundraising, by the end of 2008.

"Coincidentally, this will also mark the centenary of the Basilica."

The 2005 concert was a sellout and Dame Malvina delighted patrons with her beautiful voice and personality.

"She was very impressed with the Basilica as a venue for such a concert. Superb performances by supporting artists including David McAtammney, organist Nicholas Dillon, and the Edmund Rice singers contributed to the outstanding success of the evening."

Supporting artists of the 2008 concert were still to be finalised.

The trust is hopeful, with continued support, the project can be successfully completed. Given that the total cost of the project will be around $430,000 the Trust has been pleased with the progress to date.

Virtually all the restoration work on the exterior of the building is complete, and work on the third and final stage is largely confined to the interior of the Basilica. <

- © Fairfax NZ News