Tag

opera

125 reviews

2026 · 4

19 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

RADIANCE, from the NZSO with Simon O’Neill (tenor) and Pietari Inkinen (conductor) – two glimpses of Richard Wagner’s youth-to-maturity journey as an innovative opera composer.

8 Aug · Peter Mechen

Manon – an operatic journey of turmoil and struggle for survival

21 Jun · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

At Last! NZ Opera’s 2021 “take” on Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro makes it to Wellington

15 Feb · Peter Mechen

Days Bay Opera’s setting and Bizet’s “Pearl Fishers” an indelible operatic combination

2025 · 7

24 Oct · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

ENEMY OF THE STATE – a multivaried concert experience with Psathas, Glazunov and Shostakovich

18 Oct · Wellington Cathedral of St Paul · Peter Mechen

NOYE’S FLUDDE – Delitable in alle wise and a ful gret joie!

10 Sept · Peter Mechen

“The Phantasmagoria is constant!” – Ravel approves his magical new 1925 opera!

11 Aug · Opera House · Peter Mechen

A Masked Ball – Wellington Opera’s presentation of perilous concealment

13 Jul · Peter Mechen

A double bill from Wellington Opera which pulled no punches – Dame Gillian Whitehead’s Mate Ururoa, with Ross Harris’s Notes From the Front

22 Jun · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

Atmospheric production, ingratiating voices, gentle updating – NZ Opera’s “La Boheme” in Wellington

13 May · Peter Mechen

Cantoris – opera that’s tuneful, rhythmic, magical, exotic, funny, murderous, tragic, pompous, escapist, real – what more could you want?

2024 · 3

13 Sept · Peter Mechen

A “Tosca” to be relished – Wellington Opera in full cry

15 Jun · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

A Rossini Opera for Down Under – from NZ Opera

18 Apr · Public Trust Hall · Peter Mechen

Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park” – an operatic transfiguration

2023 · 6

11 Nov · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

History in the making in 2023 – Alban Berg’s opera “Wozzeck” performed “live” for the first time in New Zealand

23 Sept · Opera House · Peter Mechen

Pasifika (m)Orpheus operatic presentation a poignantly human tale

10 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” – a production for our time

19 Jun · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

A thought-provoking “Cosi fan tutte” from NZ Opera

3 Jun · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

Myth and Ritual in everyday life – from Orchestra Wellington

25 Mar · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

Lucia di Lammermoor – desperate people do desperate things……

2022 · 3

7 Oct · St James Theatre · Anne French

The stage of the imagination – NZ Opera’s Macbeth

9 Jul · St James Theatre · Steven Sedley

Opera in the time of Covid

20 Feb · Peter Mechen

The Queen’s Closet’s 2022 “Judgement of Paris” a winner

2021 · 3

5 Nov · Peter Mechen

Dramatic and innovative Haydn in the Church from Camerata with soprano Carleen Ebbs

20 Apr · Opera House · Peter Mechen

Mozart’s Don Giovanni from the new Wellington Opera Company – a promising beginning

12 Feb · Lindis Taylor

Sleep-walking as Rhona Fraser’s Days Bay Opera returns with a delightful Bellini masterpiece

2020 · 6

21 Jul · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Camus’s La Peste … our Covid-19 … the sterility of opera … and …

4 Apr · Lindis Taylor

The composer of Kopernikus, Claude Vivier: interview with conductor Vladimir Jurowski

2 Mar · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s “Eight Songs for a Mad King” a brilliant, Janus-faced experience

1 Mar · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Festival stages remarkable, eccentric opera by Canadian, Claude Vivier

27 Feb · Lindis Taylor

Barbara Paterson’s moving operatic portrayal of love in crisis in Poulenc’s monodrama

31 Jan · Peter Mechen

Poulenc’s “La Vox Humaine” given a stunning performance

2019 · 6

3 Oct · Opera House · Peter Mechen

Enthralling and disturbing – NZ Opera’s take on Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw”

23 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

Intense, heartfelt and involving – Verdi’s Rigoletto from Eternity Opera at the Hannah Playhouse

19 Jul · Peter Mechen

Two out of three from Puccini’s Il Trittico boldly and confidently presented by the NZSM

29 Jun · Opera House · Steven Sedley

A joyful, exhilarating Barber of Seville, New Zealand Opera’s first offering of the year

20 Jun · Lindis Taylor

Offenbach’s anniversary year: Jewish, German, and essentially French; painstaking emergence and eventual triumph

1 May · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Lindis Taylor

The essence of Don Pasquale splendidly delivered by Wanderlust Opera at St Andrew’s lunchtime concert

2018 · 7

6 Dec · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

A triumphant culmination of Pinchgut Opera’s work in Sydney: Hasse’s Artaserse

16 Nov · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

Eternity Opera sings triumphantly once again at Wellington’s Hannah Playhouse – Puccini’s Madam Butterfly

4 Oct · Opera House · Peter Mechen

Puccini’s La Boheme in Wellington – ineffably human and heartfelt

4 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

Monteverdi’s Orfeo – a “rarely comest…spirit of delight” from Eternity Opera

23 Jun · Opera House · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s trans-Tasman “The Elixir of Love ” a corker!

21 Jun · Lindis Taylor

Musical anniversaries: composers and music

16 Mar · Opera House · Peter Mechen

Orpheus – a Dance Drama – beautiful, complex and thought-provoking work from Michael Parmenter

2017 · 10

7 Oct · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s Kátya Kabanová packs a punch at the St.James in Wellington

30 Aug · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Rosemary Collier

Compressed, alternative version of Mozart’s Figaro treated with wit and flair

25 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre · Rosemary Collier

NZSO and Edo de Waart’s outstanding performance of Damnation of Faust

6 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Lindis Taylor

Eternity opera’s triumph with The Marriage of Figaro – with the second cast

5 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

Eternity Opera’s “Figaro” produces the goods at Welllington’s Hannah Playhouse

28 Jul · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

Close-up Janáček an operatic delight from NZSM

14 Jul · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Lively and colourful Iolanthe from Wellington G&S Light Opera

1 Jun · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s 2017 Carmen surprises, disconcerts and delights

25 Feb · Opera House · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s Mikado contentious but “not to be missed”

15 Feb · Lindis Taylor

Days Bay Opera’s twelfth production handles Eugene Onegin with youthful energy and perceptivity

2016 · 10

16 Dec · Lindis Taylor

Melbourne’s Ring cycle revival a spectacular triumph

30 Sept · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

Sweeney Todd – powerful and disturbing theatre at St.James’, Wellington

11 Sept · Lindis Taylor

Admirably staged and sung opera and music theatre excerpts from the school of music

27 Aug · Lindis Taylor

Magical I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Bellini) the tenth production by Rhona Fraser’s Opera in Days Bay

24 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Lindis Taylor

Don Giovanni scores impressively in performance by Eternity Opera’s second cast

20 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

The Don rides out again – Eternity Opera’s “other” Don Giovanni

20 Aug · Hannah Playhouse · Peter Mechen

Opera with energy and excitement – Eternity Opera Company’s Don Giovanni at the Hannah Playhouse

28 May · St James Theatre · Lindis Taylor

The Magic Flute in brilliant production, with mainly New Zealand cast of polish and energy

3 Mar · Peter Mechen

Brass Poppies – ordinary people at war

14 Feb · Lindis Taylor

Handel’s early Agrippina in brilliant Days Bay production

2015 · 11

4 Dec · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

A few days in Sydney for opera and symphony

10 Oct · St James Theatre · Lindis Taylor

New Zealand Opera’s Tosca a triumph at all levels

6 Oct · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Rosemary Collier

NZSM Voice-Students at St Andrew’s

15 Aug · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Lindis Taylor

Delightful, witty Così fan tutte from Wanderlust Opera

13 Aug · Peter Mechen

NZSM Students’ operatic double bill moves and delights

8 Aug · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Lindis Taylor

Schumann a winner but Sibelius and Mendelssohn unconvincing in fine Bach Choir performances

21 Jun · Rosemary Collier

Excellent opera recital with Friends of New Zealand Opera

12 Jun · Michael Fowler Centre · Lindis Taylor

Marvellous Wagnerian farewell (Siegfried and Götterdämmerung) for conductor Inkinen and his Symphony Orchestra

9 May · St James Theatre · Rosemary Collier

Cenerentola brilliant in every aspect – principals’ singing and acting, orchestra and chorus, production, sets and costumes from New Zealand Opera

28 Feb · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Rosemary Collier

Opera Boutique with a boisterous Pergolesi double bill

11 Feb · Peter Mechen

Days Bay Opera in great success with early opera, La Calisto

2014 · 6

11 Oct · St James Theatre · Rosemary Collier

NZ Opera’s “Don Giovanni” in Wellington enthralling

21 Aug · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Rosemary Collier

Product of Terezin concentration camp survives as admirable, enjoyable children’s opera

11 Jul · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s LA TRAVIATA charms in Wellington

8 Mar · Rosemary Collier

Admirable, engaging performance of Noye’s Fludde in the Festival’s periphery

3 Mar · Michael Fowler Centre · Lindis Taylor

Festival opera Ainadamar semi-staged but powerful, strongly cast and magnificently performed

19 Feb · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Lively opera debut from an ambitious new Hawke’s Bay company

2013 · 8

8 Dec · Peter Mechen

Mozart’s “Goose of Cairo” nicely cooked and served at Days Bay Opera.

14 Sept · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

NZ Opera’s Dutchman redeemed by love and music

7 Sept · Lindis Taylor

Il Corsaro – a New Zealand premiere, but not the Australasian one

10 Aug · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Expansion of review of Il Corsaro, published by London’s Opera magazine

26 Jul · Opera House · admin

Il Corsaro a delight and a triumph

11 May · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

NBR NZ Opera’s “Butterfly” – traditional and triumphant

21 Feb · Peter Mechen

Delight with a sting in the tail – Cosi fan tutte at Days Bay Opera

12 Jan · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Twenty-two talented young singers fill brilliant evening at Whanganui’s Opera School Gala

2012 · 9

13 Oct · St James Theatre · Lindis Taylor

Brilliant Bartered Bride redeems shortcomings of its Cold War setting

29 Sept · Adam Concert Room · Lindis Taylor

Diverting variety of opera scenes in New Zealand School of Music’s annual opera fiesta

10 Aug · Sacred Heart Cathedral · Rosemary Collier

Superb New Zealand premiere of Donizetti masterpiece in the Catholic Cathedral

22 Jul · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

Views of the NZSO’s epic “Valkyrie”

19 May · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

A magnificent Rigoletto, almost too close for comfort….

5 May · Peter Mechen

Hutt Valley Orchestra – “What did you say they were playing?….!”

15 Mar · Opera House · Peter Mechen

Great enthusiasm at Jenny McLeod’s “Hōhepa” premiere

24 Feb · Michael Fowler Centre · Rosemary Collier

Stravinsky at the Festival: Distinguished performances of powerful works heard by too few

11 Feb · Peter Mechen

Handelian enchantment upon Alcina’s magic island

2011 · 4

27 Aug · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

PAG edges out CAV in double-headed NBR NZ Opera thriller

3 Aug · Peter Mechen

A night to savour – Britten’s “Dream” enchants at NZSM

16 Mar · St James Theatre · Rosemary Collier

Handel’s Xerxes from New Zealand Opera in brilliant period orchestral setting

14 Jan · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Whanganui hosts a sell-out opera school gala concert

2010 · 11

1 Dec · Lindis Taylor

Days Bay Opera triumphs with Rossini rarity: The Journey to Rheims

9 Oct · St James Theatre · Lindis Taylor

Macbeth triumphant in Wellington

2 Oct · Adam Concert Room · Rosemary Collier

Opera Scenes at New Zealand School of Music

4 Sept · Sacred Heart Cathedral · Rosemary Collier

Magnificent Tudor Consort in Schütz and Domenico Scarlatti

15 May · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

Mozart, da Ponte and Figaro ride again – NBR New Zealand Opera

15 May · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

Viennese Connections – Dame Malvina Major and the NZSO

14 May · Michael Fowler Centre · Peter Mechen

Dame Malvina Major and the NZSO – a concert of commitment

15 Mar · Lindis Taylor

Figaro’s marvellous marriage in Day’s Bay garden

5 Mar · Michael Fowler Centre · Lindis Taylor

Simon O’Neill – Wagner Gala

28 Feb · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Lindis Taylor

Simon O’Neill and Terence Dennis in conversazione for Wagner Society

13 Jan · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

Impressive Opera School concert at Wanganui

2009 · 10

12 Oct · Lindis Taylor

‘Opera for organ’: Wade Kernot in benefit for St Peter’s, Willis Street

10 Oct · St James Theatre · Peter Mechen

Eugene Onegin straight from the heart…

26 Aug · St Andrew’s on The Terrace · Lindis Taylor

‘Hideous Love’ offered by Brio, opera ensemble

14 Aug · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

The Yeomen of the Guard at the Opera House

23 Jul · Adam Concert Room · Lindis Taylor

Handel’s Semele from NZ School of Music

9 May · St James Theatre · Lindis Taylor

L’Italiana in Algeri from the NBR New Zealand Opera

27 Mar · Peter Mechen

NIMBY Opera triumph in Janáček opera

12 Mar · Wellington Town Hall · Lindis Taylor

Gianni Schicchi in Christchurch, starring Martin Snell and Anna Argyle

28 Feb · Lindis Taylor

Trans-Atlantic: music theatre piece from Boutique Opera

12 Jan · Opera House · Lindis Taylor

New Zealand Opera School, Wanganui

2008 · 1

12 Sept · Opera House · Lindis Taylor