Stage Notes: Mansfield Park – a short primer for a modern classic

Jane Austen Kia ora koutou and nau mai haere mai to the very first instalment of Stage Notes for the 2025 season of New Zealand Opera. If you attended any of our operas throughout 2024, it’s highly likely that you’ll be familiar with Stage Notes – and if not, welcome! This is the series where … Read more

New Zealand Opera welcomes Governor-General as new patron 

Aotearoa, New Zealand, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland  – New Zealand Opera is delighted to announce that Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand has become the newest Patron for the company.   Her Excellency joins an esteemed group of existing Patrons of New Zealand Opera, including The Rt Hon Dame … Read more

What people say – Rigoletto

Our final production of the 2024 season, Verdi’s Rigoletto, opened on 19 September to a sold out Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre. Here’s a selection of the feedback from our season: “With this production director, designers, soloists, chorus and musicians have brought together a seamless tale of brilliantly rounded characters with vivid emotions and contemporary relevance.” … Read more

Stage Notes: The story of Moshinsky’s Rigoletto

Elijah Moshinsky, in front of an image of his Ariadne auf Naxos for the Metropolitan Opera. Headshot courtesy of Opera Australia. Welcome back to Stage Notes, the series where we take you inside and behind the scenes of our fantastic mainstage opera productions, sharing fresh insight into the worlds built on our stages. For this … Read more

Breaking the language barrier

A new step in our accessibility journey. (Simplified Chinese follows English) Last week, we at New Zealand Opera were proud to announce that for the very first time, audiences will be able to access live, Simplified Chinese surtitles on their personal devices at all performances in our upcoming season of Rigoletto. Speaking to The Big … Read more

The 2024 New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Company Artists

New Zealand Opera is delighted to announce the appointment of Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono and Taylor Wallbank (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Heretaunga) as the 2024 NZ Opera Freemasons Foundation Company Artists. Alfred and Taylor have been part of the wider NZ Opera whānau for some time now, with both appearing in the ensemble for our … Read more

Stage Notes: A short history of Le comte Ory

As a company dedicated to crafting world-class opera performances for Aotearoa, we know that our audience is a culturally engaged, artistically-informed and generally very discerning one. But we also know that within our wide, varied artform, even those with a passion for opera may occasionally wish for more insight into what they may see on … Read more

What people say – 2023 (m)Orpheus

Our production of (m)Orpheus with acclaimed Pacific contemporary dance company Black Grace opened in Auckland to a full house and rave reviews.

Cosi van Tutte

What people say – 2023 Così fan tutte

Our production of Così fan tutte opened in Auckland on 31 May to rave reviews. Here is some of the feedback we have received so far: Reviews A triumvirate of creative talent guiding four outstanding voices – NZ Arts Review Cosi Fan Tutte is an opera for our time – Andrew Whiteside  This is not … Read more