Wanganui Opera Week finale
Published on 21 January 2016
21 January 2016
It was a full house at the Royal Wanganui Opera House last Saturday night for the Wanganui Opera Week gala evening, attended by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Whanganui District Council Chief Executive Kym Fell attended and said the capacity crowd was captivated by the performances from students who had attended the New Zealand Opera School during the week.
“It was an incredible opportunity for Whanganui people, and visitors to our district, to experience opera in a purpose-built facility and hear the stars of the future,” Mr Fell said
“To have the presence of Dame Kiri in our community is a reflection of the extremely high regard for our annual Opera Week.
“What was difficult for many people was the uncomfortable temperature, due to the combination of heat and high humidity, which I am told occurs here in mid-summer. While the Opera House does have a very good natural ventilation system it was not able to work as effectively as it should have on the night.
“Council engineers report that part of the ventilation system behind the ceiling dome is yet to be fully commissioned following essential fire compliance work and the recently completed seismic strengthening of the building. Secondly, show producers have prescribed guidelines surrounding acoustics and light intrusion which meant the doors could not remain open throughout the performance.
“The Opera House has had more than $1M in upgrades including seismic strengthening, fire and access compliance, refurbishment of the seats and a new roof and while Council had considered the cost of installing an air-conditioning system, the capital costs could not be justified for several evenings a year throughout the summer months.
“In the longer term Council will consider a system for chilling incoming air, but in the meantime work will begin on options for more efficient ventilation of external air while keeping light, sound and fan noise to acceptable levels. This should be resolved within four months.
“I am sure it can’t come soon enough for many present last Saturday evening.”