Events Calendar

Beautiful news for the many who couldn’t - for love or money - get seats for last year’s Jonathan Lemalu ACAS sell-out. We’ve managed to get him back for one night only in Arrowtown for a specially created “memory lane” night, not to be missed.
Jonathan Lemalu is completing a stellar (we MEAN “stellar”) year, with an ACAS concert in Arrowtown’s magnificent Athenaeum Hall, Thursday 13 November.

Here’s why 2025 has been so big for the opera star.

First, it saw the Dunedin-raised bass baritone booked for feature roles with the Royal Opera, the English Opera, and both the London and Birmingham Philharmonics. But the biggest moment was actually an “off stage” one which tells exactly why he’s become a force in international opera.

The world’s (officially) top rated musical school, London’s Royal College, this month announced Jonathan Lemalu’s appointment as a staff professor. He'll teach the finer vocal and performance skills to the best of its budding opera stars. But there are large strings attached - the Royal College carefully manages its polished reputation, so part of the deal is that while this “professor” teaches, this “performer” must continue to bring the College kudos, via maintaining his major stage roles. And so, no rest…

Two big things were in play with a selection by people who sit at the top of the heap. First, the Royal College has snagged someone it knows is one of opera’s best on-stage performers. Jonathan Lemalu will teach how he makes an opera character bring a scene alive.

Second – they know that behind that magnificent voice, is a deeply detailed vocal “know-how” that Lemalu has developed alongside a career that started back in good old Dunedin, with teacher Honor McKellar.

 Jonathan Lemalu, turning fifty this year, is right at his peak. He tells ACAS our Arrowtown concert is a specially created “memory lane” night, that includes yarns and anecdotes from days as a Dunedin student chorister and a young winner of big competitions - through to singing some of his bigger roles, as he established his international name.

What a night we have coming. He’s big and he’s “one of ours.”

Drinks available for purchase from 6.30pm, Complimentary canapes provided, Concert at 7.00pm.

With Thanks to our event sponsor Bayleys Arrowtown.

Tickets are available to buy on Eventfinda (link below) and also limited quantities at either The Arrowtown Lifestyle Village Office or The Arrowtown Pharmacy
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/jonathan-lemalu-concert/arrowtown

Location

Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall

33 Buckingham St , Arrowtown