[ ClassicalX ] Ten Tenors truly international

Forget the three, try The Ten Tenors at Timaru's Theatre Royal.

Following their launch onto the international stage, Queensland's ten tenors has a tour of New Zealand planned, with Timaru included in the line up on Tuesday June 17.

They have come from unassuming beginnings back in 1995, when 10 young opera students from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, banded together to form what was then largely a corporate act.

The groups performances were few and far between and were essentially just a part-time affair, providing the members with a bit of money to help them through their studies.

"We joke about it now, but back in the day, The Ten Tenors was really just a fun way to earn a bit of extra beer money," producer and original group member Matthew Hickey said.

"It was all very informal and we could never understand why people would hire us to essentially fool around on stage."
In 1998, with the popularity of the group growing by the month, the boys decided to take their antics on the road and began a full-time touring schedule that has yet to wane.

Arguably their biggest break came in early 2002 when The Ten Tenors were invited to perform at the German entry selection event in anticipation of the Eurovision Song Contest. Within hours, they had sold out an entire tour and were well on their way to becoming one of the most successful touring acts in Germany.

Further European and Asian countries followed and in 2003 they made their US debut.

Nowadays, The Ten Tenors circle the globe ten months of the year, performing around 250 shows on five different continents around the world.

The Ten Tenors have taken their passion for quality music and powerful singing to venues like London's Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House,and the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The Ten Tenors are now back for a national tour of New Zealand in June after selling out every scheduled concert date during their August tour here last year.

The Timaru Herald has two doubles passes to the Ten Tenors to give away.

To enter send your details to the Ten Tenors, The Timaru Herald, PO Box 46, Timaru or email emma. bailey@ timaruherald.co.nz with your contact details.

Source: The Timaru Herald