Waitangi Festival Concert 2011

Waitangi National Trust is hosting a free concert on Saturday 5^th Febrary starting at 17:30. Headlining the entertainment will be Dame Malvina Major, on stage at the bay where Hobson stepped ashore to sign the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Co-hosted by veteran entertainer Ray Woolf, the show on the eve of Waitangi Day will also allow some young, local singing students to show their talents.

Dame Malvina will sing songs from the shows and other well-loved favourites, opening the concert with some of opera’s favourite and familiar arias. She will be accompanied by pianist Sue Smith-Gaddis, the recipient of an honour in the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to music.

The concept of presenting on the Waitangi stage two of the country’s music icons, each from different genres, came from Waitangi National Trust CEO, Jeanette Richardson. "Ray has become a 'standing room only' performer on the Hobson’s beach stage over the last few Waitangi festivals, and like so many New Zealanders he has great admiration for Dame Malvina. They both performed on stage for the tribute to the late Sir Howard Morrison and they also appeared together on the New Year’s Honours List in 2008. It seemed natural to ask them to come together again at the place where the two Treaty partners came together."

NOTE: Free parking is provided on the estate for the free concert on Saturday 5 February.