New Zealand Opera is New Zealand’s only professional opera company. Established in 2000 as a result of a merger between the former Auckland based Opera New Zealand and the Wellington based National Opera of Wellington. A further merger was established in 2012 with Southern Opera in Christchurch.
Beginning with Aida in 2000, New Zealand Opera has presented over 500 opera performances, including 48 mainscale operas, 30 touring and festival operas. In addition to this we have presented 750 other performance events to an audience of more than 730,000 and included over 100,000 school children, youth and adults through our participation projects.
For the past 20 years the company has been involved in a range of activities: It has commissioned New Zealand original works, participated in festivals throughout New Zealand, run national regional tours and been involved in co-productions with Opera Queensland, State Opera South Australia, Victorian Opera and Seattle Opera.
OUR PURPOSE:
Enriching the cultural life of Aotearoa through an experience of opera that connects, engages and inspires reflection on our human condition.
He whakarangatira i te oranga ahurea o Aotearoa mā te whakakite i te puoro whakaari e tūhono nei, e toro nei, e whakaawe nei i te huringa o ngā whakaaro ki te āhua o te ira.
OUR AMBITION:
Leading opera from Aotearoa in a way that reimagines the art form; embraces the cultural and social identities of our diverse communities; and ensures a vibrant and sustainable presence for opera in New Zealand.
