Photo: Provided
New opera company Wellington Opera is set to be a major new company in Wellington's cultural scene, and its formation is being marked this month by the presentation of a rather unusual programme of pop-up performances in public spaces across the capital city ahead of a season of Don Giovanni in April. It's part of a city wide performance programme called 'What if the city was a theatre?' Joining us to introduce the programme are Wellington Opera's artistic director Matthew Ross and tenor Boyd Owen. For Boyd, the international scene for opera is rather different and difficult at the moment. He's worked in the past in China, the US, Europe and Australia where he's also a citizen - so this last year has seen a huge shift. he did however perform relatively recently in Wellington in Eternity Opera Company's Rigoletto in 2019. The What if the City was a Theatre programme spaces for Wellington Opera range from the Waterfront Diving Platform and City to Sea Bridge to Plimmer Steps and, fittingly, Opera House Lane. Then in March they've got a rather unusual preview venue for Don Giovanni: the scaffold and walkways of Wellington's Exhibition and Convention Centre. Wellington Opera present Pop-Up Opera from the 19th to the 28th of February in various sites around Wellington as part of the What if the city was a theatre? programme, and Don Giovannio Al Cantiere is on the building site for Wellington's Convention and Exhibition Centre 2pm Sunday 7th of March. Don Giovanni opens proper at the Wellington Opera House on the 17th of April.
