MARCH 2023

ST JAMES THEATRE

Emma Pearson - Lucia

Phillip Rhodes - Enrico

Oliver Sewell - Edgardo

Samson Setu - Raimondo

Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono - Arturo

Hannah Ashford-Beck - Alisa

Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono - Normanno

Conductor - Tobias Ringborg

Director - Sara Brodie

Set Design - Mark McEntyre

Costume Design - Tony De Goldi

Wellington Opera Chorus

Orchestra Wellington

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  • “the Wellington Opera company has assembled one of the most consistently fine casts of New Zealand singers I have heard on a Wellington stage”

    Elizabeth Kerr - Five Lines

  • “The response of the audience… was some of the warmest witnessed within living memory.”

    Max Rashbrooke - Stuff

  • “It was a sublime performance... Wellington Opera’s third successful opera is a huge highlight... Tremendous thanks to Wellington Opera"

    Felicity Wong - Scoop

  • “In Lucia di Lammermoor, audiences have the chance to see world-class singers stepping into iconic operatic roles. Wellington Opera is to be commended for their vision and dedication to this art form, as well as creating professional performance opportunities for up-and-coming young singers and Wellington creatives."

    Francesca Emms - Theatreview

VERDI

LA TRAVIATA

JULY 2022

ST JAMES THEATRE

Violetta – Emma Pearson

Alfredo – Oliver Sewell

Giorgio Germont – Phillip Rhodes

Conductor – Hamish McKeich

Director – Sara Brodie

  • “They loved it. You have made them life-long lovers of opera.”

    School Principal

  • Despite the COVID-issues, the performance was a magnificent success. Emma Pearson and Violetta, and Phillip Rhodes as Giorgio Germont were consummate performers. The pathos and passion in their voices were magnificent. Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono singing was immaculate with a fluency that belied his youthfulness. The rest of the cast and chorus were commendable with some fine singing and acting and the orchestra, led by the inimitable Hamish McKeich, were faultless.

    dmsreviewblog

  • "Better still… her scenes with the fantastic Philip Rhodes, playing Alfredo’s father, Giorgio. The latter – his physical presence coolly imposing and his voice stentorian – perfectly caught the forceful complacency of a bourgeois male whose heart is nonetheless softened by Violetta’s plight."

    Stuff Review

  • Baritone Phillip Rhodes played the role of Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father and the agent of much of the story’s grief. Again, we saw the full multi-dimensional complexity of a character, one not always seen sympathetically in productions of La Traviata.The dark clarity of Rhodes’ beautiful baritone and his compelling stage presence gave us a Germont full of righteous paternal authority."

    Fivelines.nz

  • Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono as Alfredo was a revelation. His tone was immaculate and he carried the vocal part accurately and with a fluency that belied his youthfulness." …(Emman understudied and sang two nights)

    Stuff Review

  • Photo credit - Stephen A’Court

MOZART

DON GIOVANNI

APRIL 2021

Don Giovanni – Christian Thurston

Leporello – James Ioelu

Donna Elvira – Amanda Atlas

Donna Anna – Amelia Berry

Don Ottavio – Oliver Sewell

Zerlina – Natasha Wilson

Masetto – Joel Amosa

Commendatore – Paul Whelan

Conductor – Matthew Ross

Director – Sara Brodie

Associate Director – Matthew Kereama

Production Designer – Meg Rollandi

Lighting Designer – Jo Kilgour

Wellington Opera Chorus

Orchestra Wellington

  • Photo credit - Stephen A’Court

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  • "This Don Giovanni was outstanding. It humbled me: the richness of talent that New Zealand / Aotearoa possesses in all areas. The direction was sublime… creative, innovative, and subtle.”

    Stephen Gibbs, dmsreviewblog

  • "A finer cast could hardly be desired… Undoubtedly a wonderful achievement. …proved its point that opera of the highest standard can be mounted here and that there is an enthusiastic audience for it.”

    Roger Wilson, Stuff

  • “The whole-hearted applause that greeted cast and creative team in the curtain calls demonstrated the pleasure this new opera company has brought in its premiere production.”

    Elizabeth Kerr, Five Lines

  • "We are privileged in every way to have the opportunity to enjoy opera like this being produced in Wellington."

    Michael Gilchrist, Theatreview