Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 4, 1 April 1999 — A Hawaiian tenor's aloha [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Hawaiian tenor's aloha

By Paula Durbin fOR THE past 10 years, Keith Ikaia-Purdy's star has risen steadily in the competitive world of grand opera. Taking the gold medal at Italy's Verdian Voice Competition allowed the Kamehameha Schools gradu-

ate to give up his day job in eomputers in 1989, and he has never had to look for one since. He is under contract until 2003 as prineipal tenor with the Vienna State Opera, where he alternates in leading roles with the likes of Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti, and he also appears all over the world as

guest artist. Now he is poised to make his stage debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera House in early 2000. The upcoming engagement grew out of the Met's invitation to "cover," but not fill, the tenor role in "Werther" in February. The opportunity to sing next year might not have materialized,

however, but for the generosity of Hawai'i Opera Theater. When the " Werther " offer was extended, Ikaia-Purdy had already committed to open HOT's 1999 season in

January. Everyone associated with the Hawaiian tenor emphasizes he took his HOT commitment seriously and he was ready to let his ehanee go by to participate in the Met's season. But HOT director Henry Akina and HOT's board knew that "covering" could lead to bigger things, and they graciously released Ikaia-Purdy from his Honolulu contract. "I really appreciate that," he said in a telephone interview from Vienna. 'That's why I am coming home, to thank them and help the company." He will be showing his aloha in a benefit concert for HOT at the Hawai'i Theater on April 18 when he will sing Italian arias as well as a cycle of Hawaiian songs arranged by Jerre Tanner. "We are looking forward to presenting one of

Hawai'i's best known operatic artists with two yotmg voices who have the potential to aspire along those lines," said Akina. On the program with Ikaia-Purdy are Quinn and Blythe Kelsey, currently students at the University of Hawai'i and the university's lab school, respectively. "It's a wonderful opportunity for them," said the young singers' proud mother, the well-known soprano Debbie Kelsey, who teaches at the lab school and directs the Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club. Like the Kelseys, Ikaia-Purdy also comes from a musical 'ohana. The Kamuela Purdys on his father's Side connect him to his cousin Palani Vaughan, and through the Kohakuloas and Lum Lungs on his mother's side he is See TENOR on page 5

"The Kamuela Purdys on his father s side coimect liim to his cousin Palani Vaughan, and through the Kohakuloas and Liun Limgs on his mother 's side he is related to Sonnv ChillingwoiTh .

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"Tosca" became a career mi]estone when Keith Ikaia-Puitiy hael to substitute in the lead for aī!ing Italian superstar Lueiano Pavarotti in the Vienna State Opera's producoon.

Next February, Ikaia-Puidy will star at the New York City Met in 'Tttles of Hoffman" (above), one of his two fevorite tenor ioles. He was introduced to the other, "La Boheme's" Rodolfo, when, as a Kamehameha fieshman, he volunteered to usher for the HOT production. "Ifellasleepbythethiidact,"headmitted. But during his senior year he sang in HOTs chorus for "Rigoletto."

related to Sonny Chillingworth. He credits song contests and the eoncert glee club at Kamehameha with developing his appreciation of music, but in high school tennis and volleyball took up more of his spare time. At University of Redlands, he studied music more formally, but he had mistakenly labeled himself a baritone and did not recycle himself as a tenor until just before graduation. "We take life as it comes and adjust. That's a Hawaiian trait," said Ikaia-Purdy. "There is an identifiable, hereditary sound," he continued, as he enumerated the advantages Hawaiian musical artists enjoy. "All Hawaiian vocalists have it whether classical or pop. It's warm, mellow, chocolate with sun. And we know how not to let the stress of the business get to us. We are adaptable." Ikaia-Purdy's manager Miehael Blevins confirmed these qualities have served his chent well. "He's a really Hawahan guy succeeding in European opera," he said. "First class, always prepared, and so humble some of his friends don't even know he's a singer." ■

TENOR From page 4