Season: 19, 20, & 21 August, 2022
Toi Toi Opera is fast establishing a reputation as NZ's most exciting and innovative pint-sized opera company. Join us in August at The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts, as we present Leonard Bernstein's one-act opera Trouble in Tahiti (in its 70th Anniversary year), and two works by Samuel Barber - the one-act opera A Hand of Bridge, and Knoxville: Summer of 1915 for solo soprano.
The pieces are musically and dramatically complementary, providing an intimate and moving insight into the lived reality of middle-class American suburban life in the 20th century, and of just how far short it fell for many of the 'American dream' that they had been sold. In each instance, the audience is invited to delve underneath a picture-perfect cookie-cutter façade, as the protagonists grapple with their feelings of loneliness, emptiness and isolation, and question the meaningfulness of lives dedicated to the pursuit of 'more' and 'better'.
Sexy, poignant, funny, and oh-so-relatable! This sparkling new production, designed by Christy Lassen, and with sumptuous costuming by Tina Hutchison-Thomas, will transport you back to the Golden Age of the 1950s.
Directed by Matthew Kereama, with Musical Direction by Rachel Fuller, the production stars some of New Zealand's finest young operatic talent.
A fully-staged production, sung in English, with chamber orchestra.
Trouble in Tahiti, Music & Libretto by Leonard Bernstein, performed by kind permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd., exclusive agents for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd. of London. A Hand of Bridge, by Samuel Barber, libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti, performed by kind permission of the Wise Music Group.
Cast
Creative & Musical Staff
Orchestral Ensemble
Toi Toi Opera Orchestra © Toi Toi Opera 2022
Rachel Fuller - Musical Director & Piano
Matthew Harris - Double Bass
Susan Dollin - Flute
John Robinson - Clarinet
Doug Brush - Percussion & Drums
Jeremy Woodside - Répétiteur
Matthew Oswin - Répétiteur
Press & Reviews
Download and print* a copy of our lovely 2022 season programme here.
Programme & graphic design © Keith Clark & Karyn Taylor-Moore for Toi Toi Opera - 2022
* Printing specifications: double-sided A3, folds to A5.
Gallery
All of the photographs below were taken at Toi Toi Opera's Closed Dress Rehearsal of A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill, 18 August 2022, The Piano Centre for Music and the Arts Pīpīwharauroa: Kui-kui whitiwhiti ora.
Photographs © Karyn Taylor-Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2022
!['A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill' Season Artwork](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/1645057976674-YMNQJQXIFKESJCZNBWET/ToiToi-Website-HighRes.jpg)
'A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill' Season Artwork
![Emma Gilkison (Soprano Soloist) 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' (Barber)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/62f2edda-486b-49aa-9e93-509a65ea9f24/BarberBernstein-1.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Soprano Soloist) 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' (Barber)
![Emma Gilkison (Soprano Soloist) 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' (Barber)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/58243e56-1cd5-4326-a551-b8580d7a207e/BarberBernstein-3.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Soprano Soloist) 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' (Barber)
![Emma Gilkison (Soprano Soloist) 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' (Barber)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/ee73fb89-c2f4-4673-9dd4-ce67ba6a95cf/BarberBernstein-2.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Soprano Soloist) 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' (Barber)
!['A Hand of Bridge' (Barber) full cast - Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/84277c2e-1ab0-4eaa-80dc-9c4c370a94ab/BarberBernstein-4.jpg)
'A Hand of Bridge' (Barber) full cast - Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)
![Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), & Katherine Doig (Geraldine)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/f47c036e-33f6-4db4-b5d1-e889ab3dfc8c/BarberBernstein-5.jpg)
Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), & Katherine Doig (Geraldine)
![Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/1cf5cc2b-aa21-4105-88be-83aea274d49d/BarberBernstein-6.jpg)
Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)
![Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/0bc0efb4-2c7d-442f-8fb6-12b4accb88f6/BarberBernstein-7.jpg)
Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)
![Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/48405bd5-b778-43be-9198-bde025328e4d/BarberBernstein-11.jpg)
Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)
![Alex Robinson (David)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/68a95585-ba42-4ff4-9c28-54b22eb119ad/BarberBernstein-9.jpg)
Alex Robinson (David)
!['Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) - Matilda Wickbom (Dinah), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & John Bayne (Sam)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/a3e2dfb1-d81b-4b13-b1c5-7474dc6f5d2f/BarberBernstein-14.jpg)
'Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) - Matilda Wickbom (Dinah), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & John Bayne (Sam)
![Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/21137040-34ed-46be-ac83-87f551b4fba9/BarberBernstein-13.jpg)
Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)
![Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/8b07e9ef-8f6e-46ae-9e21-50f4d9183481/BarberBernstein-15.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)
![John Bayne (Sam)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/479de0f9-ee26-4d9a-b626-82db33699fe9/BarberBernstein-16.jpg)
John Bayne (Sam)
![Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/a79d97c9-817d-4fb4-b288-8b8d6b49c5bb/BarberBernstein-17.jpg)
Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano)
![Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/eff7cb4a-ce06-4bae-ae01-bb39f57011e0/BarberBernstein-18.jpg)
Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/86cbd799-1c20-4c8f-a234-9c023bee4868/BarberBernstein-21.jpg)
Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/85e0deb4-35dc-4c06-a732-adb08b00294b/BarberBernstein-19.jpg)
Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Matilda Wickbom (Dinah) & Matthew Harris (Double Bass)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/99a14c78-e15f-4684-947d-46104dd381df/BarberBernstein-20.jpg)
Matilda Wickbom (Dinah) & Matthew Harris (Double Bass)
![Rachel Fuller (Musical Director & Pianist), Susan Dollin (Flute), John Robinson (Clarinet), & Doug Brush (Percussion & Drums)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/bacb7442-ca23-4d21-925b-ed179afd0d6e/BarberBernstein-22.jpg)
Rachel Fuller (Musical Director & Pianist), Susan Dollin (Flute), John Robinson (Clarinet), & Doug Brush (Percussion & Drums)
![John Bayne (Sam) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/ce2f49d0-da3f-45bb-83db-eed6e943a66a/BarberBernstein-23.jpg)
John Bayne (Sam) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/0dfd3a54-fe60-4f16-9127-1fb59bb40388/BarberBernstein-24.jpg)
Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)
![Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/5a3bd86f-aec2-4918-a7fe-e0b90cb70522/BarberBernstein-25.jpg)
Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor)
![Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), John Bayne (Sam), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/3821c147-8013-4f84-a235-69b44705c604/BarberBernstein-26.jpg)
Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), John Bayne (Sam), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)
![John Bayne (Sam)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/24e46d03-8eed-4437-8409-149467acf3f6/BarberBernstein-27.jpg)
John Bayne (Sam)
![Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/22050c72-c48e-4b5b-8cdd-fffd8dd610c9/BarberBernstein-28.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Matilda Wickbom (Dinah), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/928b5b0b-591b-446b-a74d-879a3a251f96/BarberBernstein-30.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Matilda Wickbom (Dinah), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)
![Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/277c30c4-b3dd-44e3-bf40-c51b8343a198/BarberBernstein-31.jpg)
Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone), & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/78a8b5c5-fb2b-488d-894d-c2c382553b7a/BarberBernstein-32.jpg)
Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone), & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![John Bayne (Sam)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/e8cf773b-b207-4526-80a0-927bf9a7772c/BarberBernstein-34.jpg)
John Bayne (Sam)
!['Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) full cast](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/67ecdee4-70ff-4171-aa77-827de34915f5/BarberBernstein-36.jpg)
'Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) full cast
!['Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) full cast](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/4f19fb63-8ac3-4d53-bf51-374286815455/BarberBernstein-37.jpg)
'Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) full cast
![John Bayne (Sam) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/900e31cc-f31d-47f9-a263-874f90ef6e35/BarberBernstein-38.jpg)
John Bayne (Sam) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)
![Matthew Kereama (Director)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/94780966-3456-4ab0-9998-3fed46e2fcf8/300751130_10159981383600281_828815710910347611_n+%281%29.jpg)
Matthew Kereama (Director)
!['A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill' full cast photo](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e2163719b2b7f2b29e44e82/f48c42ba-a783-4bde-bad7-81d31687c661/BarberBernstein-39.jpg)
'A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill' full cast photo