Page 413 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

Having not performed a major concert since September, Lemalu is now working hard
to rebuild the physical and mental stamina needed.
"It’s tricky going from something you do nearly every day anyway not having the
opportunities and if I’m honest not having the motivation then I guess that is what
doing these concerts is about.

"I want to get my stamina back."
He has been working with pianist Terence Dennis and refreshing himself with the
music for the 25-plus songs he is to perform in his upcoming tour.

"I find it hard to complete sentences now I’ve got so many languages in my head. I’m
walking around reciting words on buses, scaring people in cafes by accidentally
singing a note or two."

Playing Cold Genius, the spirit of winter from Purcell’s King Arthur in Vienna.

Despite all this, Lemalu is excited. He gets to perform in Dunedin on Mother’s Day
for his mother, godmother and "music mother" former teacher Honor McKellar.

"It’s been a joy to put it together. For mum there’ll be some Gershwin and Rodgers
and Hammerstein."
He has also been touring the country performing two sets of concerts - one an opera
programme featuring Mozart, Stravinsky, Britten, Beethoven and Rossini to
Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein and Kern while the other is a song programme
completely in English featuring some of his favourite works some written especially
for him including ones arranged by John Drummond.