Ashburton gave its two opera stars a resounding welcome home last Thursday night when Southern Opera singers and former residents Anna Argyle and Mark Tavendale returned to their hometown to perform in Gianni Schicchi. ‘‘It is pretty special,’’ Ms Argyle said of performing back home. Both previously appeared before the home audience for last year’s performance of the Solid Energy Ensemble of Southern Opera – and enjoyed ‘‘great support’’, Mr Tavendale said. ‘‘It is great to come back. I went to Ashburton Borough School and just walked around town and showed friends where I lived,’’ Mr Tavendale said.
The two are no strangers when it comes to performing together. Aside from Ensemble, they have performed in two choruses together – Il Trovatore, which played in Christchurch and Dunedin, and included a mix of New Zealand and international singers, and Canterbury Opera’s Carmen. Both rated the Event Centre high as a venue to perform in. ‘‘It has got a nice, warm atmosphere and good acoustics,’’ Ms Argyle said, while Mr Tavendale said it was a credit to the town. According to Mr Tavendale, Mid Canterbury has produced more than its expected share of talented artists. ‘‘If you look at some artists Mid Canterbury has produced – for example, Simon O’Neal. And Anna has the potential for a fantastic career. ‘‘There are a number of singers coming out of the region and this is where it starts – people in the schools and community encouraging you.’’
Mr Tavendale began singing in the St Andrew’s Church choir under Betty Buchanan and the encouragement he received spurred him on. Today, the support of his wife and family had made it possible to combine a career in law with his passion for singing. ‘‘It is not easy to balance but I have a fantastic artistic career now and I aim to be the best I can be in New Zealand and to sing with international singers and singers we have locally. ‘‘I feel I could do it full-time but I have the best of both worlds.’’
Ms Argyle is a New Zealand Opera Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist and she is going on to Auckland after Gianni Schicchi to understudy a role for New Zealand opera. She will also perform the role of Papagena in The Magic Flute for Southern Opera later this year. ‘‘It is pretty full on but I am really enjoying it. I am lucky with the opportunities that I have been given,’’ she said.
Ms Argyle has her eye on the international stage and is aiming at auditioning for opera schools overseas. Mr Tavendale added that he would like to see more funding being directed to the arts. The average person had no idea of the sacrifice that young singers went through both financially and personally to reach their levels, he said. ‘‘Artists have never been supported like sportsmen but it has got a lot better.’’
For Gianni Schicchi, both dug into their personal experiences to meet their roles. ‘‘Every experience that you have, you bring to your roles. If (your character) is in love, then you think about some experience that you have had,’’ Miss Argyle said. Mr Tavendale said their were parallels in his role in Gianni Schicchi with his job in his law firm. ‘‘My staff think it is funny that I am looking for a will because I do lose papers.’’
The fighting relatives, who search for the will of the wealthy Buoso Donati, who is rumoured to have left his money to the monks, also resonated with families who disputed legal wills in his profession, he laughed.
Mr Tavendale said that he had enjoyed the teamwork of the production as well as working with director Mark Hadlow. ‘‘He has taken a different approach than a traditional director might.’’