Opera

Bizet transports us to Ceylon, where two devoted friends find themselves in love with the same woman, an entrancingly beautiful priestess, Leïla.

The future for classical music in New Zealand looks bright if these young women are anything to go by.

This intense opera is inspired by the real-life assassination of King Gustavus of Sweden in 1792.

NZ Opera’s latest production is a feast for the eyes and the ears. Spectacular staging and costuming along with powerful singing made for a grand night of opera according to reviewer Peter Hoar Audio

A production by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and The Roundhouse.

New Zealand Opera’s production of La Bohème opens next week in Auckland before traveling to Wellington. One of the most recognizable operas of all, Puccini’s masterpiece touches on themes of youth… Audio

We discover how video games are drawing the next generation to classical music; New Zealand Opera’s leading stars talk about playing the romantic leads in La Bohème and we continue celebrating winners…

Soprano Madison Nonoa wins the inaugural McCormick Opera Competition, Upbeat previews the Big Sing Finals with Adjudicator David Childs, and we review last night’s APO concert and round out the week…

Soprano Madison Nonoa has won the inaugural McCormick Opera Competition in Auckland overnight. Video

The ways in Pacific communities and cultures are affecting New Zealand is explored by Damon Salesa, an associate professor of Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland. Discussing ideas set out in… Audio

New Zealand Opera recently announced Thomas de Mallet Burgess as its new General Director. He chooses five favourite pieces of music that speak to him on different levels. Video, Audio

NZ musical film Upstage has won an international award, NZ Opera’s new General Director Thomas de Mallet Burgess choses his Five Faves, and star violinist Augustin Hadelich plays Beethoven’s Violin…

Baritone James Harrison has returned home from London to appear in the High Court in Christchurch... but it’s a good thing. Audio

Brass Poppies is a chamber opera from the productive partnership between composer Ross Harris and librettist Vincent O'Sullivan. It focuses on the disastrous Gallipoli campaign and the fate of the… Video, Audio

Composer Gareth Farr and librettist Renee Liang provide Tim Dodd with background to their opera, premiered at the Auckland Arts Festival, March 2017. Audio

This week sees the grand finals of the Lexus Song Quest, 2018. Over the decades the award has boosted many a young opera singer's career, as well as being a significant confidence booster in this… Audio

Today we meet Auckland based tenor Manase Latu as he prepares for the Grand Final of New Zealand’s long running Song Quest tomorrow. He speaks with Clarissa Dunn about the unexpected path classical… Audio

We meet the final finalist for tomorrow night’s Lexus Song Quest, we get into the groove of things with Count Basie Orchestra MD Scotty Barnhart and we finish our series of music inspired by…

The NZSO gets its geek on with music inspired by Comic Con. We meet the first two finalists for the Lexus Song Quest 2018, and we continue our series on music inspired by star-crossed lovers.