Work
Bitter Calm
opera in two acts for soloists, chorus and orchestra
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About
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.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by Mercury Theatre, Auckland
Contents note
two acts
Text note
Libretto by Stuart Hoar
Performance history
11 Mar 1994: Performed by Wendy Dixon, Jenny Wollerman, Iosefa Enari, Roger Howell, G Harris, Wellington City Opera Chorus, Wellington Regional Orchestra (now Vector Welllington Orchestra) conducted by Patrick Thomas and directed by James Beaumont
Performed by Wendy Dixon (Elizabeth); Jenny Wollerman (Catherine); Geoffrey Harris (Roberton); Geoffrey Harris; Iosefa Enari (Matiu); Roger Howell (Thomas Bull) with Wellington City Opera Chorus and Wellington Regional Orchestra (now Vector Wellington Orchestra) conducted by John Hopkins