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Christopher Blake  

Bitter Calm

Duration: 1h 30' 00" Year: 1993
opera in two acts for soloists, chorus and orchestra

  • Instrumentation
    2sop,1ten,2bari,SATB chorus and orchestra: (2)22(2)2(2); 2220; 2perc,timp,2keyb; strs.
  • Programme Note

    Bitter Calm is a full length opera for five principals, chorus and orchestra in two acts. It is based on an incident at Motuarohia Island in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand in the 1840s. It is a drama of human passions in the contexts of land alienation and tensions between Maori and new settlers. Premiered at the New Zealand International Festival for the Arts in 1994 and filmed for television.

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Jenny McLeod  

Hōhepa

Duration: 1h 45' 00"
a chamber opera in four acts

  • Programme Note

    Hōhepa originates from the request by Matiu Mareikura (Ngati Rangi) to Jenny McLeod to write the story of Hōhepa Te Umuroa. In 1988 Matiu ensured Hohepa’s bones were repatriated home to Pati-arero on the Whanganui River from Maria Island, Tasmania. Jenny undertook what she describes as a “sacred trust” to honour her friend’s wishes, whānau and the memory of Hōhepa. The result is a succinct hour and forty-five minute through-written opera, epic yet very human at heart.

    Since taking up the task of librettist and composer in 1996, Jenny’s research has been extensive based on recorded, personal and oral histories (she has since supplied Witi Ihimaera with this material for his subsequent book The Trowenna Sea). The NBR New Zealand Opera have been connected with Hōhepa since its inception, originally encouraging Jenny to write a chamber opera. The vision for 2012, in collaboration with the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, is to realize Hōhepa on a larger scale to do justice to the scope of a story crammed with characters, and to include specialized dance and kapa haka performers in the staging.

    Source: nzopera.com

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Gillian Whitehead  

Outrageous Fortune

Duration: 1h 58' 00" Year: 1998
a chamber opera in two acts

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Matthew Davidson  

The Singing Lesson

Duration: 1h 30' 00" Year: 2012
a Chamber Opera in Three Acts

  • Instrumentation
    for 2 Lyric Sopranos, 2 Dramatic Mezzo-Sopranos, 1 Lyric Contralto, 1 Tenor Buffo, 1 Basso Buffo, and small chamber orchestra (Cl in Bb, Bsn, Tpt in C, Bs Tbn, vln, cb, and Perc (1-2): wind chimes, triangle, sleigh bells, cowbell, tam-tam, vibraslap, wood block, glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, tubular bells, snare drum, bass drum, and celesta)
  • Programme Note

    ACT ONE / THE GARDEN PARTY: Synopsis: Laura is helping her mother, Mrs. Sheridan, in the preparations for a garden party, when it is discovered that a death has transpired at a nearby working-class neighbourhood. Laura is in favour of cancelling the party, but other members of her family are not. After the party is over, Laura is instructed by her mother to visit the bereaved family, which results in an enormous personal change – or does it?

    ACT TWO / THE SINGING LESSON: Synopsis: Miss Meadows has been engaged, but now it appears to be over. How will she survive the embarrassment when this fact is discovered at the small school where she teaches? Or will it ever be discovered?

    ACT THREE / THE DOLL’S HOUSE: Synopsis: The arrival of a new doll’s house at the home of Kezia & Isabel creates quite a stir amongst their friends at school. However, Kezia & Isabel’s desire to invite the Kelvey children (who are of a lower social class) to see the new house, causes friction between them and their Aunt Beryl).

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John Drummond  

The Stars in Orion

 Year: 1999
opera based on Otago goldrush story

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