A New Direction for Handel’s Classic Opera Oreste

Media Release: For Immediate Release

A New Direction for Handel’s Classic Opera Oreste

Auckland Opera Studio & NZ Barok Orchestra present
Handel's ORESTE
Directed by Benjamin Henson

NZ's freshest young opera talent alongside stage veterans will bring Handel's rarely performed baroque Oreste opera to the stage, presenting a fiery tale of sacrifice, danger, and triumph. A semi-staged production, Oreste will combine the forces of Auckland Opera Studio and NZ Barok Orchestra at the historic Mercury Theatre just off K Rd, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August.

Magically saved from sacrifice at her own father's knife, Iphigenia is bound to serve the goddess Diana on the island of Tauris under the tyrannical rule of a King living in fear. As the blood of all strangers must be cast over the island's altar, fate brings Orestes, Iphigenia's estranged brother, to its shores.

First performed in 1734 at the Covent Garden Theatre, Handel's Oreste is a tightly woven exploration of love and lust; a desperate search for sanity in a world built on fear; a bitter struggle between destiny and desire. A combination of youth and experience make up the vocal cast who will perform recitatives in English and arias in Italian, starringStephen Diaz (Oreste), Rebecca Ryan (Hermione), Madison Nonoa (Ifigenia), Filipe Manu (Pilade), James Ioelu (King Toante) and Kalauni Pouvalu (Filotete). This group of singers will be directed with the distinctive eye of Benjamin Henson, one of two national candidates for the Engine Room initiative. Under the initiative, Henson has spent six months working with Auckland Theatre Company, Fortune Theatre Dunedin, and the New Zealand Opera. This will be his very first foray into opera as the Director.

The Auckland Opera Studio was founded in the early 2000’s, established to provide free professional coaching to graduate students. The studio is led by powerhouse opera aficionado Francis Wilson, a world-renowned tutor and vocal instructor whose past students include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Sister Mary Leo. She’s worked previously as a personal vocal coach to Virginia Zeani, who is regarded as one of Romania’s legendary musical voices. Wilson is working with NZ's freshest young opera talent alongside seasoned virtuoso’s of the stage to bring Handel's rarely performed baroque Oreste opera to Mercury Theatre.

Providing the musical score are the instrumentalists of NZ Barok Orchestra. They are the only group performing baroque music on historic instruments in New Zealand, providing audiences with the opportunity to experience sounds and songs as they were intended to be heard by the original composers. They take to the stage alongside the vocal soloists to bring Handel's score to life.

A unique opportunity to see some on NZ’s best opera performers in a stunning venue!

“Mercury Theatre…is a perfect venue for opera, having once been home to Auckland’s opera world” - John Daly-Peoples, National Business Review

Handel's ORESTE plays
Mercury Theatre, 9 Mercury Lane, Auckland
Saturday 20 August 7:30pm & Sunday 21 August 5:30pm
Tickets: Adult $60, Student $20, Child $10 (service fees may apply)

Bookings: iticket, 0508 iTICKET (484-253) or https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2016/aug/oreste

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