Carreras Tickets Up For Auction

10 Nov 2003

Tickets for Auckland’s sell-out Jose Carreras concert at the Aotea Centre will be auctioned at the What’s Up Charity Auction on November 18.

Public tickets for the concert are under heavy demand and the Auction will provide an opportunity for any disappointed Carreras fans to try their luck once more.

Spanish-born Carreras who frequently sings alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo now has a repertoire extending over 60 opera roles. Regarded as one of the world’s top tenors his 2003 itinerary has already seen him perform in Spain, Italy, Japan, Denmark, Bermuda, Austria, Portugal, France, Germany, the US, the UK and Mexico. This is his second visit to New Zealand.

The four A Reserve tickets up for auction are just one of a range of generous prizes people have donated to support What’s Up” says Executive Director Grant Taylor.

What’s Up, run by the Kids Help Foundation Trust, is a national call-free telephone counseling service for young people aged 5-18. Available seven days a week from midday to midnight the service receives about 452 calls a day. In the past two years it has received over 500,000 calls from children all over New Zealand.

Almost 50 per cent of calls come from 7-12 year olds who want help with issues such as dealing with relationships, bullying and peer pressure.

“Pre-teenage kids can be very clear about their problems and they’re often very good at finding solutions if they’re listened to and given some guidance,” says Grant Taylor.

What’s Up is currently experiencing a funding crisis and hopes the auction will raise over $20,000 in emergency funds.

The fund-raising evening will run from 7pm to 9pm at George Restaurant & Bar in Parnell. The hammer will come down on the first auction items at 8.15pm.

Tickets are $95 per person – including food and wine – and can be purchased by calling 630 4144.

For more information call Grant Taylor Ph 630 4144 or Allison Webber 04 905 8595.