Wellington Opera Explained

Wellington Opera
Full Name:	The Wellington Opera Trust
Type:	Opera company
Location:	Wellington, New Zealand
Leader Title:	Chair
Leader Title2:	Artistic Director

Wellington Opera is an opera company based in Wellington, New Zealand formed in 2020 by the Wellington Opera Trust, a charitable organisation, with funding and support from Creative New Zealand, Wellington City Council and the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.^[1]

History

The company's first staging was a production of Mozart's Don Giovanni in Wellington's Opera House directed by Sara Brodie, in April 2021. The cast included New Zealand-born bass-baritone James Ioelu, Christian Thurston, and Amelia Berry, accompanied by Orchestra Wellington conducted by artistic director Matthew Ross. The performances were well attended and received positive reviews.^{[2] [3]}

The 2022 production of Verdi's La traviata reopened Wellington's largest theatre, the St James Theatre, after it was closed in 2018 for earthquake strengthening work after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. The opening night performance was somewhat hampered by COVID-19 infections among the cast and crew, but was nonetheless received positively by the audience and reviewers.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wellington Opera to help reopen St James Theatre with La Traviata . Chumko . Andre . . 6 October 2021 . 10 November 2022 .
2. Web site: Review: Wellington Opera's quirky Don Giovanni offers promise to even more to come . Wilson . Roger . . 20 April 2021 . 11 November 2022 . Stuff .
3. Web site: Mozart’s Don Giovanni from the new Wellington Opera Company – a promising beginning . Mechen . Peter . Middle C . 20 April 2021 . 10 November 2022 .
4. Web site: Covid casts shadow over opening night of ingenious, carefully designed La Traviata . Rashbrooke . Max . Stuff . 10 July 2022 . 10 November 2022 .