Cast pages
Andrew is a regular soloist with orchestras, opera companies, and choirs throughout New Zealand. He recently sang the role of James Rushworth in Johnathan Dove’s operatic adaptation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park with New Zealand Opera. Other notable recent performances include Graf Albert in the Auckland Philharmonia’s national premiere of Korngold’s seminal masterpiece Die tote … Read more
Andrew Collis has sung around the world, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, since 1990. He was a member of the ensemble of the Cologne Opera in Germany from 1993–2007. During his years in Germany, he also sang with many opera companies in cities such as Mannheim, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Essen and Berlin, and appeared … Read more
Kristin Darragh is a New Zealand born operatic contralto. Her voice has been described by Opernglas as one of “breathtakingly beautiful depth and formidable penetrating power.” Performance highlights in recent seasons have included The Angel in Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with Auckland Choral, Alto soloist in the Brahms Alto Rhapsody with Orchestra Wellington and Marc … Read more
Described by Opera Magazine as a “lambent mezzo-soprano” and possessing a “confident, fearless stage presence”, New Zealand mezzo-soprano Cecilia Yufan Zhang is is an H F Music Award Holder studying at the Royal College of Music Opera Studio. In the 2025/26 season, Cecilia performs the roles of Lapák / Woodpecker in Janáček’s The Cunning Little … Read more
Bass Anthony Robin Schneider has appeared with leading opera companies and orchestras worldwide, including Santa Fe Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Semperoper Dresden, Dutch National Opera, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, The Cleveland Orchestra, and the Berliner Philharmoniker. In the 2025/26 season, he appears as Méphistophélès in Faust at the Concertgebouw, Sarastro in The Magic Flute at … Read more
New Zealand soprano Sophie Sparrow is a freelance singer based in the UK. Sophie made her debut as Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro during the 2025 Glyndebourne Festival, where she also performed as the First Bridesmaid, covered one of the Blumenmädchen in Parsifal, and appeared in the festival chorus. Recent operatic roles include Phyllis … Read more
Born in Hawke’s Bay, baritone Phillip Rhodes is a former Emerging Artist with New Zealand Opera and has since appeared regularly with the company in roles including Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana, Silvio in Pagliacci, Marcello in La bohème, Giorgio Germont in La traviata, Scarpia in Tosca and most recently, the title … Read more
James Clayton is one of Australia’s most versatile baritones, acclaimed for his rich vocal colour and commanding stage presence. A former professional French horn player, he has built a distinguished career on both operatic and concert stages. A long-standing principal artist with West Australian Opera, he has sung the title roles in Il barbiere di … Read more
Felicity Tomkins is an award-winning New Zealand soprano, internationally based between Australasia and the United Kingdom. She was the winner of the 100th Melbourne Opera Herald Sun Aria in 2024, the 2024 Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship, and 2023 Lockwood NZ Aria. Felicity completed her young artist training in America in the Artist Diploma opera programme … Read more
New Zealand-Tongan tenor Filipe Manu is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most compelling tenors of his generation. In 2024, he became the first singer from the Pacific and Australasia to win the prestigious Tenor Viñas International Singing Competition. A graduate of the esteemed Jette Parker Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House, … Read more