Simon O'Neill Photo: Stephen Langdon
Simon O’Neill ONZM is an exceptional heldentenor who has established himself as a world-class talent, traversing international stages far and wide.
O’Neill is back home in Dunedin to sing Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde performing alongside Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Mezzo- Wendy Dawn Thompson and Conductor James Judd on Saturday 24 June. Before he heads on tour to Madrid in July. Originally written by the Chinese poet Li Tai Po, O’Neill will sing the third translation of the song in German.
O’ Neill believes in nurturing New Zealand’s young Operatic talent. Telling Bryan Crump New Zealand Opera singers punch well above our weight on the world stage and voices his concerns about the pressures on the classical arts, from universities and beyond. “I do a lot of teaching now and I hear all our young singers. There’s phenomenal talent coming out of our universities”.
Bryan and Simon reminisce on their shared choir days in Dunedin, Simon’s love for Billy Joel and refining his classical singing voice over 30 years.
