Whakatane’s Opera Festival kicks off next weekend with the first of two events – Matinee at the Paris Opera.

Presented by Music Whakatāne, Matinee at the Paris Opera features André Heyboer (baritone) and Chris Hainsworth (piano/organ).

Heyboer, a seasoned performer in Europe’s top opera houses, will present a range of dramatic opera arias from French and neighbouring composers, including Handel, Verdi, Bizet, Wagner, Puccini and more, covering three centuries of musical highlights.

Expect a powerful performance full of emotional depth.

Hainsworth, well-known to Whakatāne audiences, will accompany Heyboer on piano and organ, with a special performance of Bach’s Jig Fugue and Widor’s Toccata.

Hainsworth has lived in France for over 30 years, having held prestigious musical positions including organist at Béziers Cathedral and director of music at Hamilton’s Anglican Cathedral.

Since his debut at the Capitole of Toulouse in 2005, Heyboer has performed on the stages of Marseille, Dijon, Hong Kong, Montpellier, Lille, Limoges, Monte Carlo, Avignon, Toulon, Amsterdam, Opéra Comique, Paris National Opera, Champs-Elysées Theater, São Paulo, Munich Prinzregententheater, Theater an der Wien, Palau de les Artes in Valencia, Grosses Festspielhaus Salzburg.

With his warm and strong baritone voice, and his splendid high notes, he excels on stage in roles such Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, Tonio in Pagliacci, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Athanael in Thaïs, Zurga in Les Pêcheurs de Perles, The High Priest in Samson and Dalila, Nilakantha in Lakmé, Albert in Werther, Germont in Traviata, Iago in Otello, and the title roles of Nabucco and Macbeth.

Matinee at the Paris Opera is on at 4pm at the Church of St George & St John, on Saturday, March 15.

* Ticket giveaway
The Beacon is giving away a double pass to Matinee at the Paris Opera. To be in with a chance to win, email [email protected] with Matinee at the Paris Opera in the message field. Entries close Monday, March 10, at noon. Tickets can be collected at the Beacon reception, Monday to Thursday.