Anthem Right Groove for Soprano Marvelly

By Phil Campbell - Rotorua Review | Thursday, 19 June 2008

Elizabeth Marvelly, the Rotorua soprano perhaps a groove or two away from cementing stardom, performed before her biggest audience two weekends ago.

Marvelly, 18, sang before a live audience of 30,000 and millions more in the UK as she performed the national anthem before the international rugby match between the All Blacks and Ireland, in Wellington.

``I loved it, it was just such an amazing experience,`` Marvelly said. ``It was completely and absolutely freezing but once I controlled the shivering I was fine.''

Wind and Antarctic conditions made singing difficult, especially the wind  ``the wind makes it difficult; shivering is the  worst  thing because you need all of your stomach muscles to be able to sing,`` she says.

The New Zealand Rugby Union had expressed satisfaction at Marvelly's performance, singing versions in Maori and European. ``They sent a message to the event's organisers saying they were very, very pleased,'' Marvelly said.

The pre-entertainment in which Marvelly was involved was also considered spectacular, ``so that was brilliant, it was nice to hear they  were happy''.

Marvelly is to perform at pre-game and  halftime for the second test against England at Christchurch on Saturday.

Events companies contracted to the NZRU organise the entertainment and with the NZRU's approval Marvelly's recommendation was accepted.

The biggest audience before which she had performed was ``very much on my mind in the freezing cold''.

Though cold, Marvelly said she was ``quite surprised`` she was not really ``that`` nervous.

``I was just more looking forward to getting out there and having a go. It was really quite satisfying  the elements were so stacked against us. It was great''.

Marvelly plans for Mother's Day gig

Rotorua concert on Friday with emerging international star Paul Potts and Elizabeth Marvelly might be a sell out. But it could be just another day in the office for the promising Rotorua singer.
She is planning a Mother's Day concert in Rotorua on May 11 as her tribute to local supporters.

"For Mother's Day, I'm going to be doing a few of the songs from the album so those mums who had it bought for them for Christmas won't be disappointed and I'm also going to do a few old favourites," Marvelly said.

"I have been working on a whole lot of new material, which includes old songs like Your Song by Elton John, an incredibly beautiful song but I've never heard a woman sing it."

Unchained Melody, by The Righteous Brothers, is another prospect, and a "few select old pieces which are still applicable in modern music and my genre as well". One guest is the young baritone Christian Thurston, product of the prominent Rotorua family.

Marvelly says she plans to include "beautiful" well-known songs."Mother's Day is a time for reminiscing and being grateful."Over the past year, she has fashioned a solid foundation of stepping stones to international stardom.

A concert with Potts, a well sold CD, a planned CD compilation with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and two songs on Dancing With The Stars have been crunched into a busy 12 months.
Late last week, Marvelly flew out of Rotorua and across the Tasman to try to crack the usually fertile Australian music market.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/bayofplenty/4475400a6014.html

"Elizabeth Marvelly": Australian Release Date Confirmed!

Elizabeth updated her Bebo blog by the following important announcement:

"AUSTRALIA RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED!

The Australian Release date for Elizabeth Marvelly - the debut album, has now been confirmed for:

MARCH 29, 2008

Elizabeth will be heading to Australia with Paul Potts in early April as part of his tour, where her Australian journey will begin. Singing at the Sydney Opera House, among other prestigious venues, will be a highlight, and a fantastic introduction to the Australian audience.

- Elizabeth and the team."

GOOD LUCK WITH THE TOUR AND SALES OF YOUR ALBUM, ELIZABETH!

"I'm not Fake" says Young Popera Singer

Popera star Elizabeth Marvelly says she's no fake.

"I'm a young artist who's endeavouring to be as true to her music as possible," she says.

The 18-year-old said she was surprised that New Zealand opera legend Dame Kiri Te Kanawa had said she thought popera stars were fake singers.

Dame Kiri slammed Hayley Westenra during an interview with the Weekend Herald's canvas magazine in which she said popera stars are all fake singers.

"People call them up-and-coming, but they never last," Dame Kiri said. "They are the new fakes for the new generation coming through, but they can only perform with a microphone and they've basically never had any form of formal training. I've had a 40-year career, but these people, two or three years and they're gone."

Marvelly said she did not consider herself a fake singer and although not offended by Dame Kiri's comments, she was surprised by them.

"I just wouldn't have expected her to comment against a young New Zealander. She is usually so supportive of young New Zealanders ... We were all just looking at it and saying, 'Oh my goodness'," Marvelly said.

She also noted the financial support Dame Kiri gave musicians through her Kiri Te Kawana Foundation.

Asked if she thought Dame Kiri's comments were snobby, Marvelly said she didn't. "I think that she is speaking in relation to an art that she is dedicated to. She is well within her rights to have her opinion. A lot of opera singers don't like popera."

However, Marvelly said popera was a fantastic music genre which was drawing people who wouldn't normally listen to opera.

She hoped that despite Dame Kiri's comments, she and others in the popera genre would have big careers ahead of them.

- DAILY POST

Source: New Zealand Herald

We are all supporting you and other popera singers in this Elizabeth!

Matakana Lakeside Charity Concert: Photos!

Elizabeth, Hayley Westenra and Shaun Dixon held a charity concert in Matakana's Lakeside theater. This event was an outdoor concert, which held hundreds of eager fans to see New Zealand's greatest talent. Elizabeth Marvelly was kind enough to send in some photos of the event, where Will Martin also appeared to watch this well anticipated show. Elizabeth sang four songs from her debut album Elizabeth Marvelly, and spent the rest of the evening enjoying the rest of the other performances. It seemed to truly have been a night to remember.

Here are the photos! Click to enlarge:

Hayley Westenra and Elizabeth

Hayley Westenra, Will Martin and Elizabeth

Hayley Westenra, Shaun Dixon and Elizabeth

Thanks to Elizabeth for the photos! I am sure you had a fantastic night!

Review: The Press

From The Press, they give a great and promosing review of Elizabeth's debut album Elizabeth Marvelly.

!!!Congratulations Elizabeth!!!

Elizabeth In Concert: Matakana Lakeside Charity Concert with Hayley Westenra and Shaun Dixon

Elizabeth will be performing in a very special New Zealand Charity Concert, at the Matakana Lakeside theater on Saturday February 9th. This show will also be featuring New Zealand singing sensation Hayley Westenra and Shaun Dixon. They will be accompanied by the full 80 piece Manakau Orchestra. Tickets are on sale now. Concert schedule are as followed:

5pm to 6pm -- Gates Open to be parked by 6pm @ latest.

5pm to 6.30 -- Pre concert drinks & picnic with live guitar and Irish Band music.

6.30 to 7.00 -- Fine art auction.

7.00 to 7.15 -- Important announcements, introduction by MC.

7.15 to 8.00 -- ACT 1• The Manukau Symphony Orchestra will play a selection of modern and clasical music.

8.00 to 8.30 -- Interval with raffle draw.

8.30 to 9.15 -- ACT 2 • Shaun Dixon witha tribute to the late Luciano Pavarotti, then Elizabeth Marvelly will sing songs from her new CD both accompanied by the full orchestra.

9.15 to 9.45 -- Interval

9.45 to 10.30 -- ACT 3 • Hayley Westenra singing songs from hew new CD Treasure and old Kiwi favourites accompanied by part of the orchestra.

10.30 to 11.00 -- Time to socialise over last drink before departing by 11.30pm

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW