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Showing 13 of 13 reviews

NZTrio and Emma Pearson: Strauss reimagined in gold and light

By Simon Holden, 08 October 2025

The NZTrio, joined by soprano Emma Pearson for a programme largely focused on female composers, ending with Salina Fisher's arrangement of Strauss’ Four Last Songs.

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Auckland

08 Oct 2025

NZTrio and Emma Pearson: Strauss reimagined in gold and light

By Simon Holden

Hadleigh Adams (Colline), Ji-Min Park (Rodolfo) and Elena Perroni (Mimì) © Andi Crown

Auckland

Bruno Ravella's stunning direction elevates New Zealand Opera's La bohème

By Simon Holden, 29 May 2025

New Zealand Opera's new production impresses with its stunning set design and art direction, and its restrained emotional tone.

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Auckland

29 May 2025

Stunning direction elevates New Zealand Opera's La bohème

By Simon Holden

Adelaide

State Opera South Australia enliven Lucia di Lammermoor with a new generation of performers

By Sandra Bowdler, 16 November 2024

A hoary old production of an operatic warhorse is brought to quite energetic life by a sparkling cast and excellent musical and dramatic performance.

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Adelaide

16 Nov 2024

State Opera South Australia enliven Lucia di Lammermoor

By Sandra Bowdler

Auckland

Fine singing but messy production of Le Comte Ory from New Zealand Opera in Auckland

By Simon Holden, 30 May 2024

Director Simon Phillips takes the opportunity to reshape the setting of Rossini's comic opera to modern-day New Zealand.

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Auckland

30 May 2024

Fine singing but messy staging: Le Comte Ory at New Zealand Opera

By Simon Holden

Jake Arditti (Rinaldo) and Alexandra Oomens (Almirena) © Cassandra Hannagan

Sydney

A streamlined, dramatic Rinaldo from Pinchgut

By Sandra Bowdler, 30 November 2023

Although abbreviated, Pinchgut Opera's production of Handel's Rinaldo makes a powerful dramatic impact and exemplifies high musical values, with excellent orchestral playing and consistently fine singing.

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Sydney

30 Nov 2023

A streamlined, dramatic Rinaldo from Pinchgut

By Sandra Bowdler

Jonathan Abernethy, Hanna Hipp, Emma Pearson and Julien Van Mellaerts © Jinki Cambronero

Auckland

A masterful Così fan tutte in Auckland

By Simon Holden, 31 May 2023

Lindy Hume directs a refreshingly uncomplicated new staging for New Zealand Opera, supported by fine musical performances.

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Auckland

31 May 2023

A masterful Così fan tutte in Auckland

By Simon Holden

Adelaide

Richard Meale’s Voss revived in all its brilliance in Adelaide

By Brian Angus, 07 May 2022

Sometimes referred to as “the great Australian opera” ,Voss has had few Australian airings since its 1986 premiere. This new production shows why it is held in such high regard.

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Adelaide

07 May 2022

Richard Meale’s Voss revived in all its brilliance in Adelaide

By Brian Angus

Auckland

A refreshing new Nozze di Figaro from New Zealand Opera

By Simon Holden, 08 June 2021

Lindy Hume directs a new production of Mozart's masterpiece which proves a constant delight.

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Auckland

08 Jun 2021

A refreshing new Nozze di Figaro from New Zealand Opera

By Simon Holden

Sydney

Mellifluous frivolity in Opera Australia's production of Il viaggio a Reims

By Jeremy Eccles, 24 October 2019

Rossini's opera is all about art and art lovers in this production by Damiano Michieletto.

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Sydney

24 Oct 2019

Mellifluous frivolity in OA's production of Il viaggio a Reims

By Jeremy Eccles

Adelaide

An exciting open air Carmen in Adelaide

By Brian Angus, 23 March 2019

Performing Carmen in the open works well. This open-air Adelaide event combined wonderful music and delightful singing, making for an impressive evening.

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Adelaide

23 Mar 2019

An exciting open air Carmen in Adelaide

By Brian Angus

Sydney

Pinchgut Opera's Athalia in Sydney: fabulous performance marred by directiorial problems

By Sandra Bowdler, 21 June 2018

Handel's Athalia is a wonderful English oratorio but this production, while musically wonderful, was marred by a problematic staging with infuriating surtitles.

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Sydney

21 Jun 2018

Fabulous musical performance of Athalia in Sydney

By Sandra Bowdler

Auckland

Ridding Carmen of cliches in Auckland

By Simon Holden, 22 June 2017

A superlative performance of Carmen that was certainly among the most thrilling performances New Zealand Opera has put on in recent memory.

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Auckland

22 Jun 2017

Ridding Carmen of cliches in Auckland

By Simon Holden

Sydney

Mozart meets the pantomime in Sydney

By Oliver Brett, 27 January 2012

Opera Australia's production of The Magic Flute was advertised as a family-friendly production, and at times felt more like a pantomime than an opera.

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Sydney

27 Jan 2012

Mozart meets the pantomime in Sydney

By Oliver Brett