Sponsorships

Lexus proudly supports social and cultural pursuits that mirror its artistic and achievement ideals.

Lexus Song Quest

Following 23 Mobil Song Quests spanning 48 years, Lexus New Zealand proudly inherited in 2005 the sponsorship for New Zealand’s oldest and most prestigious song contest. The Lexus Song Quest, a premiere biennial event in the arts calendar, focused on artistic development for New Zealand’s most talented young classical singers. Previous winners include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Jonathan Lemalu and Anna Leese.

In our inaugural year, in a tightly-fought contest in front of legendary American diva and competition judge Grace Brumbry, mezzo Madeleine Pierard triumphed and took out the winner of the first Lexus Song Quest.

This year, 12 semi-finalists have been selected for the 2009 Lexus Song Quest from auditions that once again prove New Zealand produces an extraordinary number of talented classical singers for such a small country.

There is tough competition ahead, as only six finalists will perform in the Lexus Song Quest Final Concert in the Auckland Town Hall on Thursday 23 April, 7.30pm. With lush accompaniment from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, these most talented of young voices will be judged by the great German tenor Siegfried Jerusalem.

The winner and place-getters of the Lexus Song Quest will then embark on a nationwide Recital Tour, giving audiences around the country the chance to hear these promising young performers. They will be performing in Christchurch on Sunday 26 April, in Dunedin on Tuesday 28 April and in Wellington on Thursday 30 April.

Winner of the 2007 Lexus Song Quest, Phillip Rhodes, has gone on to perform in major roles in productions by the NBR New Zealand Opera and is currently studying at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice, a new school set up by renowned Welsh tenor Dennis O’Neill.

Lexus is delighted to continue providing this opportunity, through the Lexus Song Quest, the Lexus Masterclasses and study grants, to recognize, encourage and applaud our best young singing talent.

The New Zealand International Arts Festival

Photo by Brendan Read.

Recognised amongst the top festivals in the world, the New Zealand International Arts Festival is the premier arts event in New Zealand and the most successful multi-arts festival in Australasia.

The 2010 Festival experience is shaped by great stories and the current issues facing the world today. It offers a rich feast of artistic experiences designed to inspire and communicate with New Zealand audiences in new and different ways.

Within the 2010 Festival calendar Lexus is proud to support the opening act of the Mahler Symphony No 8.

World-renowned conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy joins the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and some of the world’s finest soloists in delivering an electric performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. Often referred to as Mahler’s ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ due to its vast instrumental and choral force, this epic collaboration offers Festival audiences the opportunity to hear what has been deemed Mahler’s magnum opus and one of the greatest musical experiences of our time. Revered by many as the composer’s greatest achievement, the work combines sacred and secular texts that deal with Mahler’s ideal of the redemptive power of human love. The performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 during Festival 2010 marks the 100th anniversary since its first performance in Munich in 1910. Marshalling the forces of an immense orchestra, a children’s chorus, two large mixed choirs, organ, off stage brass and eight vocal soloists, this musical feast promises to be a Festival hit and guaranteed sell-out.

Annalena Persson, Marina Shaguch and Sara Macliver (sopranos); Dagmar Peckova and Bernadette Cullen (mezzos); Simon O’Neill (tenor), Markus Eiche (baritone) and Martin Snell (bass).

New Zealand Youth Choir
Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir
Christchurch City Choir
Wellington Orpheus Choir
Choristers of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul (augmented)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy (conductor)

Friday 26 February, 8pm
Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington