Opera

Expanding audiences for classical music and opera is at the heart of two upcoming events. Next weekend opera is coming to Cuba Street as part of the Cubadupa Festival in the form Stravinsky’s Renard… Audio

Opera and cake, what could possibly go wrong? That is the basis of Dunedin singer Claire Barton’s latest show Bon Appétit! Inspired by television chef Julia Childs, Claire whips, beats and bakes live… Audio

One hundred and thirty years on and The Mikado is still playing to big audiences. The NZ premiere of The Mikado was way back in March of 1887 in Dunedin. Wallace talks to bass baritone Andrew Collis… Audio

New Zealand Opera’s The Mikado has stirred up debate about cultural appropriation since it opened this week in Auckland. For reviewer Frances Moore,the production was a game of two halves - and not… Audio

With names like Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo it’s hard to take New Zealand Opera’s The Mikado seriously. But while they are having fun, leading lovers Amelia Berry – as Yum-Yum - and Jonathan Abernethy – as… Audio

Aussie Tenor James Egglestone is one of the stars of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s outdoor summer event. The concert at Pegasus Bay Winery in Waipara on Saturday week features James along with… Audio

Soprano Katherine McIndoe and Baritone Daniel O’Connor are performing in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin for Days Bay Opera.

Katherine will perform as Tatyana, while Daniel will reprise Eugene Onegin… Audio

Isaac Hayward is one of Australia’s most exciting young music directors.

He’s only twenty-five, has already been nominated for a Helpmann Award and worked with performers as diverse as Tim Finn, Jon… Audio

Former Cantabrian soprano Amina Edris is doing very well at San Francisco Opera. She’s in the second year of the young artist Adler programme and will appear in supporting roles in Verdi’s La Traviata… Audio

Renee Liang talks to Kathryn Ryan about her play, the Bone Feeder, which is being turned into an opera for this year's Auckland Arts Festival. It tells the story of a young Chinese man searching for… Audio

The new opera The Bone Feeder composed by Gareth Farr and written by Renee Liang is rich with complexity. English, Cantonese and Maori languages intertwine reflecting the story of a young New Zealand… Audio

New Zealand opera singers, soprano Amina Edris and tenors Pene and Amitai Pati from Sol3 Mio, have been cast in a number of major roles for San Francisco Opera this year. Audio

The legendary Belgian bass-bartione José van Dam looks back on his career with Jon Tolansky and discusses some of the wide-ranging repertoire in which he was highly acclaimed. Video, Audio

Luke Bird is used to singing national anthems in massive stadia across the world. Now down the line from The Weekend's little Auckland booth he's talking about his life, his favourite and least… Audio

Auckland baritone Benson Wilson took away first prize in the 2016 Lexus song quest in July ahead of Tenor Filipe Manu, and soprano Madison Nonoa.  Judge Yvonne Kenny described Benson as the complete… Audio

One of the world’s most famous mezzo sopranos is coming to teach at the New Zealand Opera School in Wanganui in the New Year. Della Jones will spend two weeks passing on her knowledge to the next… Audio