Richard Lloyd Owen
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Opera singing for the Maori

2/4/2010

2 Comments

 
You never quite know where a career as an opera singer will take you. On a recent visit to New Zealand, I was honoured to become the first opera singer to perform in a Maori 'Tatai hono Marae', a remembrance service, for the Mercy Hospice in Auckland. The whole room was garlanded with flowers and memorabilia, and  every single Maori relative spoke in their native tongue giving a eulogy of their loved one.

One gentleman (whom I later found out was the relative of Maori royalty) spoke at some length giving his lineage back some four hundred years, which took quite some time! There was a passion and pathos in his voice which made me feel as though I knew what he was saying.  Maori people love music in a similar way as Welsh people do, and wear their heart on their sleeve. I was therefore given a special status for my vocal prowess and was welcomed everywhere.
2 Comments
Sian link
2/13/2010 10:06:53 am

We have heard Richard sing in frount of 2000 Young men at Westlake boys School in Auclkland.
Most had never even heard an oper aria, let alone live.
To watch 2000 rise to there feet to give a spontaniouse standing ovation was a moment in time noone will forget!
The HUKA given in your honour from the music department was an honour reserved for the very best, boys don't get asked to perform it, they decide who reaches the hight excelence....they loved you!

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