Lynette Gunnion 
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
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
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
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
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
New Zealand Opera is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Kereama (Ngāti Manomano) as the 2024 NZ Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist.
Our production of (m)Orpheus with acclaimed Pacific contemporary dance company Black Grace opened in Auckland to a full house and rave reviews.
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
It is with great pleasure that the Board of New Zealand Opera announces the appointment of Brad Cohen as the next General Director of the Company. Brad Cohen is a musician, working internationally as a conductor, technological innovator, and publisher. He was most recently seen on our shores conducting Verdi’s Macbeth for New Zealand Opera. … Read more
On March 23, 2023, our much-anticipated production of The Unruly Tourists opened to a full Bruce Mason Centre as part of Auckland Arts Festival. Here is some of the feedback we received: Reviews a fast-paced show, sparkling with action and irreverent, down-home Kiwi wit. With a number of audience members standing to deliver enthusiastic applause … Read more