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$50k to opera star for whom ‘stage is her happy place’

Strasbourg-based Auckland soprano Natasha Te Rupe Wilson tells David Skipwith Dame Malvina Major Award has opened doors in Europe.

Auckland soprano Natasha Te Rupe Wilson says winning the prestigious $50,000 Dame Malvina Major Award is ‘‘a huge honour and privilege’’ that will help her continue to pursue her opera career in Europe.

The 27-year-old singer and actor’s win has enabled her to travel to Strasbourg, France, to audition with various opera houses, who are offering paid internships and the chance to perform on stage throughout Europe.

‘‘It is overwhelming. To win the award means that a singer in my position, especially during Covid, can do all the things that help to set up a career overseas,’’ said Te Rupe Wilson.

‘‘You have to be able to afford to go and sing for not just auditions, but also coaching, and that costs money. And then there’s the travel and the expenses in Europe. It’s just a huge honour and a huge privilege.’’

Te Rupe Wilson (Te Arawa, Nga¯ Puhi) claimed the award that was established in 2020 and funded by Joan Egan to acknowledge Dame Malvina’s legacy and vision to ‘‘share the dream’’ by supporting the career development of talented young Kiwi opera singers.

Dame Malvina says Natasha has shown the foundation that she is driven to succeed, despite the difficulties and challenges currently presented by the global pandemic.

‘‘I have watched her determined progress over the past few years where she has grown more and more as a genuine performer,’’ she said.

‘‘Besides having a beautiful voice, she is a serious actress and obviously loves to perform – the stage is her happy place.’’

Te Rupe Wilson is proud to continue her wha¯ nau’s musical legacy, particularly after recently deciding to use her full name after years of feeling out of touch and removed from her Ma¯ ori heritage.

The change comes after Te Rupe Wilson learned at a very young age that her greatgrandfather, Toroa Wirihana Rupe, had changed his last name to prevent their wha¯ nau from being discriminated against.

‘‘The Ma¯ ori side of my family is really musical. It’s a legacy for my wha¯ nau. My greatgrandfather was a drummer, my granddad Alfie was a talented musician, and my dad was a heavy metal bassist and singer. Changing my name back to Te Rupe Wilson, because my grandfather and his father are buried Te Rupe Wilson, is just a way of honouring my tı¯puna.

‘‘Changing my name back to Te Rupe Wilson, because my grandfather and his father are buried Te Rupe Wilson, is just a way of honouring my t¯ıpuna.’’

‘‘It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid, since I found out that our last name was Te Rupe Wilson, and not just Wilson.’’

Her award win caps a big year, which began with Te Rupe Wilson performing the role of Lisa for Days Bay Opera’s La Sonnambula, and Purea in the world premiere of Tim Finn’s – of Split Enz and Crowded House fame – Ihitai ‘Avei’a – Star Navigator with New Zealand Opera.

The beautiful and haunting Pasifika-themed production tells the story of Tupaia, a Tahitian star navigator, and his time onboard James Cook’s Endeavour. Tupaia sailed from Tahiti with Cook on Endeavour’s maiden voyage in 1769, but the two navigators were unable to find their way into each other’s world.

Te Rupe Wilson hopes her upcoming auditions will lead to further opportunities to work in Europe in 2022, but she will be returning home to New Zealand in January, and is looking forward to reprising her role as Purea, with two more shows of Ihitai ‘Avei’a – Star Navigator scheduled for next May in Porirua.

‘‘That was surreal. Working alongside Tim Finn on his premiere opera was crazy, and it was also a really special work to be a part of, particularly because it’s such an important story in our culture.

‘‘It was a really special show, and I’m really happy to be doing it again next year.’’

Focus | Sound & Vision

en-nz

2021-11-21T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-21T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/282140704637322

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