Salle: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland

In Auckland, heard in something close to the form Bizet actually conceived, The Pearl Fishers proves it has plenty of lustre of its own.

Director Anapela Polata’ivao handles her mixed forces of amateurs and professionals with seamless assurance, the crowds’ movements across the stage showing both clarity and intent. 

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

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

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

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

The Queen of the Night appeared as a malevolent giant spider, complete with exoskeleton, threatening Tamino with her stabbing limbs and summoning hordes of smaller spiders to writhe over Pamina when the latter hesitated to commit to Sarastro's murder.

It was hard not to be drawn in by the romance and tragedy as presented by such a sincere, credible and vocally talented young cast and a conductor with such strong identification with the idiom.