Patricia Wright, one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed singers, trained in New Zealand with Sister Mary Leo and in Australia with Dame Joan Hammond. She was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant to further her studies and after graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, received a scholarship to enable her to study in Europe. Soon after her arrival in London, Patricia was awarded second prize in the prestigious Benson & Hedges Gold Award for Singers and she also represented New Zealand in the renowned Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

Critically acclaimed performances in lieder and oratorio led her to every major concert hall in Britain and roles in the United Kingdom and Ireland included Norina, Micaela, Mimi, Pamina, Nanetta, Gilda and Dido. During this period she returned to New Zealand several times and sang Mimi in Canterbury Opera's La bohème, Despina for Wellington City Opera's Cosi fan tutte, Micaela in Auckland Opera's Carmen and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors at the State Opera House.

Since returning to live in New Zealand, Patricia has accepted engagements from the major orchestras, opera companies, festivals and choral societies.

Recent engagements include the role of Leonora in Il Trovatore which she sang with great distinction for Southern Opera, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and the Hummel Missa Solemnis for Auckland Choral Society, a recital for the Fuel Festival in Hamilton and the role of Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin for NBR New Zealand Opera. Engagements in 2010 included Strauss’ Four Last Songs with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Patricia’s operatic roles include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Liù in Turandot, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Clorinda in Cenerentola, Nedda in I Pagliacci and Madame Butterfly for NBR New Zealand Opera, The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro for Canterbury Opera, Magda in a concert performance of La Rondine for Academy Opera; First Lady in The Australian Opera's Magic Flute and Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera and Micaela in Carmen for Wellington City Opera.

A much sought after recitalist and concert performer, more recent concert engagements include an outdoor concert at Government House in Wellington, a concert with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Britten’s Les Illuminations with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra and a performance as featured artist in the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville. Other concert engagements include Vaughan William’s A Sea Symphony, Verdi Requiem and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis for Auckland Choral Society; Strauss’ Four Last Songs, Golijov’s Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra, a Puccini and a Verdi Concert, Songs of the Auvergne and Mozart Requiem for Auckland Philharmonia, Bach arias with the NZ String Quartet at Nelson Chamber Music Festival and a concert including Golijov Songs and the Four Last Songs with Christchurch Symphony.

Patricia has also sung Mahler Symphony No. 2, Carmina Burana, Stravinsky's Pulcinella and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Beethoven Symphony No. 9 for Vector Wellington Orchestra; St. John's Passion and Wedding Cantata for New Zealand Chamber Orchestra; Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Mahler Symphony No. 4, a lieder recital with Diedre Irons and a Richard Strauss programme with Auckland Philharmonia; a country-wide lieder recital with Michael Houstoun for Chamber Music New Zealand; Beethoven Mass in C Major and concert aria Ah Perfido for Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society. She has also sung Messiah, Solemn Vespers, Nelson Mass and Handel’s Solomon with Auckland Choral Society; Verdi Requiem and A Child of Our Time for Orpheus Choir; the Verdi Requiem with Hamilton Civic Choir; Liverpool Oratorio with Napier Civic Choir; the Pergolesi Stabat Mater and Mozart Exsultate Jubilate with the touring Capella Istropolitana Orchestra; and a concert entitled Early Voices for Canberra Symphony Orchestra. On the festival circuit she has sung at the Rotorua Chamber Music Festival, the Christchurch Arts Festival and the New Zealand International Festival of Arts.

Patricia has recorded Verdi Requiem with Opera New Zealand and Auckland Philharmonia; Serenata, songs by Italian composers, with David Vine, pianist, (Atoll); Frank Bridge Songs (Pearl); Jane Austen Songs (Pearl); Rebecca Clarke (Gamut); Arnold Bax (Continuum); Kenneth Young NZSO (Trust Atoll) and Hummel’s Missa Solemnis for Naxos.

Four Last Songs – Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
“Patricia Wright’s performance of the Four Last Songs was just as magnificent as the orchestral playing ….Patricia Wright's interpretation was very expressive without being self-indulgent; and the soaring lines of the opening song, Frühling, were an indication of her total understanding of the whole expressive intent of the Songs….it was a very fine performance indeed.”
Tony Ryan, Radio New Zealand Concert, Tuesday 21st December 2010

Don Giovanni, NBR New Zealand Opera
“Patricia Wright is an extraordinarily fine Donna Anna, her superb voice and capable acting capturing the high moral tone that colours her role.”
Sunday Star Times July 2005

Canteloube, Songs of the Auvergne, Auckland Philharmonia
“...for sheer beauty of line, her performance could not have been bettered, and impish humour was delivered where required. Wright’s ability to catch different vocal timbres and moods, marks her as the most versatile soprano working in the country today.”
New Zealand Herald February 2005

Source: Arts Management

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