Work

Programme Note

In Memory of Verona – drowned at sea 2005

In June 2005 my niece Verona sailed from Nelson heading for a romantic holiday in Rarotonga. She traveled with her beloved partner on his yacht. They ran into a severe storm north of New Zealand and were never found.

While writing this piece I came across reference to a quote from Tristan and Isolde in The Waste Land – “Öd’ und leer das Meer” – “desolate and empty the sea”. In both the Wagner’s and T. S. Eliot’s works the reference is to drowning at sea. When I discovered that the words were sung, in the opera, by the Shepherd (who plays Cor Anglais) it seemed appropriate for Te Moanapouri to end with a brief quotation from Act III of Tristan and Isolde.

Difficulty:

Advanced

Influences:

• Death

Dedication:

In Memory of Verona - drowned at sea in 2005

Performance History

	15 Jul 2007	Performed by the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Peter Scholes, with Martin Lee (cor anglais), and Rebecca Harris (harp); Concert Chamber, Town Hall, Auckland
		Auckland Chamber Orchestra
	03 May 2007	Performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hamish McKeich, as part of the 2007 NZSO/SOUNZ Readings
		Hamish McKeich    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
	19 Apr 2012	Performed at the “New Zealand in LA” Festival at REDCAT, Los Angeles, USA.

Awards

• NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (2007)
  

  Te Moanapouri was performed at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings in February 2007