Abstract:
Opera might not be the first thing that comes to mind if you’re thinking of New Zealand’s top choir, Voices NZ, but that's the world they head to for their three-centre tour Voices Love Opera. The concert's described as a 'fun-fuelled romp of love songs and tear-jerking chorus numbers', and directed by award-winning opera and theatre director Jacqueline Coates.
Note from the Artistic Director:
What an exciting collaboration, to work with Director, Jacqui Coates, Morag Atchison (soprano), Rachel Fuller (collaborative piano, cello), Andrew Grenon (tenor), Catrin Johnsson (mezzo-soprano), Will King (baritone) and Voices NZ in “Voices Love Opera.” It may seem rather surprising that Voices is presenting an operatic show, but I wanted to expand the repertoire and challenge the singers with singing and stage work. This programme gives us the opportunity to sing the Gloriana Dances as they
appear in the opera, with the Spirit of the Masque; and there is a variety of other operatic choruses and arias, not necessarily in the singers’ repertoire. Many of the members of the ensemble also take significant solo roles and I am delighted that singing both solos and ensembles happily coexists.
With her vision and vast operatic knowledge, Rachel Fuller has played a significant part in the curation of this show. Between us we decided who was best suited to sing which aria/chorus and it was Jacqui’s task to create the story. And she’s done brilliantly! Some of the choruses are familiar and some are not. Through Catrin Johnsson’s contact and professional work with composer Nico Muhly in the UK, we are excited to present two numbers from Muhly’s opera “Two Boys.” This opera was set on the internet and is based on real events: Anne Strawson is a detective charged with investigating the stabbing of a 13-year old boy named Jake; the main suspect is a 16-year-old boy named Brian, the only witness to the crime. Rebecca, Jake’s sister and Brian’s girlfriend chat in “U there,” and “I saw you In Algebra” is based on
expressions of brutal, online manipulation and cyber bullying. With music from Monteverdi, Purcell and Britten to Offenbach, Donizetti and Muhly, there is something for everyone; the performances present inclusive, heart-warming and confrontational views about love.