Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 9, 1 September 1995 — Keith Ikaia-Purdy [ARTICLE]

Keith Ikaia-Purdy

The lights dimmed, and the humble Ruth Ke'elikōlani auditorium was magically transformed into a royal carpet ride to the old opera houses of Vienna, Weisbaden, Hamburg and Milan. At the helm was the leading tenor of the Vienna State Opera, 1975 Kamehameha graduate, Keith Ikaia-Purdy. A lazy Sunday

afternoon at Kapālama turned into an intimate command performance for an audience of family, friends and awestruck admirers like myself. What makes him so special? First, a most unique rich vocal timbre, resulting from a melding of both baritone and tenor ranges. This very quality has assisted him in paving a phenomenal career in the operatic world. Second, a profound artistic aura, revealing discipline, precision and excellence in his craft. Thirdly, an "easy to love" smile that instantly and humbly reminds the world that he is Hawaiian. What I heai in his voice is "mana," a gift from the early ones that has given him right of passage to this highly revered artistic form of expression. As the afternoon unfolded we were gently steeped into an impressive repertoire of French and Italian love songs by Bizet, Gounod, Berlioz, and I think I even heard Pueeini.

'A'ohe a'u poina i kēlā 'auinalā a me nā mele o ka manu 'ō'ō. I shall never forget that afternoon and the songs of the rare bird who returned to his forest home to sing. Patricia Lei Anderson Murray Honolulu, O'ahu