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''.
