Viva Live features professional, classically trained singers with a wealth of live performance experience both in New Zealand and overseas. With considerable skill in numerous musical genres from opera to musical theatre and jazz, their combined expertise ensures a polished performance.

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Michael Bayly - Baritone

Brought up in Wellington, educated in Auckland, graduating with a Fine Arts degree in Photography (Elam) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Opera, Michael has performed throughout Australasia in opera, film, television and musical theatre and now calls Christchurch home.

Michael has toured Australasia with numerous productions including Blood Brothers, The Secret Garden, Full Marx!, Chess, Rush!, West Side Story, Cinderella, Crazy Dreams, Sweet Charity, Me and My Girl and The Mikado. In Christchurch Michael has appeared in several Court Theatre productions including Putting it Together, Cabaret, Bad Jelly The Witch and Kiss Me Kate, and a variety of concerts and major events. In 2010 Michael performed the title role in Sweeney Todd at the Isaac Theatre Royal.

Working with Auckland Opera and NBR New Zealand Opera Michael appeared in productions of Carmen, La Boheme, The Pearl Fishers, The Flying Dutchman, The Magic Flute, Aida and Die Fledermaus. With Class Act Opera, Michael toured The Magic Flute and performed Tonio with Opera A La Carte’s production of Dinner with the Pagliacci. For Southern Opera, Michael has performed in Il trovatore and Carmen.

Donna Alley - Soprano

Donna is a Christchurch based soprano and has performed in a wide variety of musical genres. She was a member of the New Zealand National Youth Choir and has also appeared in musicals including Aspects of Love, Chess, Crazy ‘bout Gershwin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

After relocating to Auckland, she performed with the chamber group Viva Voce and was the vocal leader with the Queen City Big Band. In 2000 she joined NBR NZ Opera as a member of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus for their productions of Die Fledermaus and Aida.

Returning to Christchurch, Donna appeared in Canterbury Opera’s productions of Lakmé, La traviata and The Force of Destiny in 2003 and 2004. As a guest artist, she performed the role of Dido in Canterbury Opera Youth’s production of Dido and Aeneas in 2004. Over the last few years, Donna has appeared as a featured soloist in numerous concerts and corporate events throughout New Zealand.

Fernand Kenel - Tenor

Fernand Kenel’s association with Opera in Canterbury began in 2001 when he appeared as Pang in Turandot. Since then, he has performed in eight other significant works for the company – Cochenille in The Tales of Hoffmann, Flavio in Norma, Hadji in Lakmé, Gastone in La traviaa, Trabucco in The Force of Destiny, Spoletta in Tosca, Beppe in Pagliacci and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor. He has also been guest soloist at a number of special opera events in Canterbury including the launch of the Canterbury Opera Foundation in 2002 and the performance of Jonathan Besser’s new opera in March 2005. In 2008 Fernand performed the role of Ruiz in Southern Opera’s Il trovatore.

Fernand’s work as a soloist is well documented. He was voted the Most Outstanding Male Voice in Canterbury in 1999, and won the Les Strong Memorial Award in 2000. In 2000, he sang tenor for the New Zealand Combined Choir and Orchestra at the Nelson Music Festival, in a performance of Haydn’s Nelson Mass under celebrated conductor Sir David Wilcocks. He has also performed as a soloist with the Jubilate Singers and Christchurch City Choir in such works as the St. John Passion and The Royal New Zealand Air force Band and The Christchurch City Choir’s performance of Wings of the Morning by Canterbury composer John Ritchie.

Leisa Falconer – Mezzo-soprano

Leisa is a highly experienced jazz and opera performer with a Jazz Performance Diploma from the Christchurch Polytechnic.

She has appeared in numerous opera choruses and, for Canterbury Opera, she understudied Isolier in Count Ory and performed the roles of Belinda A Christmas Carol, The Page Rigoletto, Nicklausse Les contes d’hoffmann, Mallika Lakmé, Petra A Little Night Music, Preziosilla La forza del destino and Abbess Suor Angelica. For Wanganui Opera, Leisa performed Flora in La Traviata, and Mercédès and understudied the role of Frasquita in Carmen.

Leisa has appeared as a soloist for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and frequently performs for private and corporate clients as a classical entertainer. In 2009, Leisa toured Australia and Asia with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.