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

Featured

Matilda Wickbom - Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti)

Soprano Matilda recently completed her post-graduate studies in Wellington towards a Graduate Diploma in Music at The New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōkī.

John Bayne - Sam (Trouble in Tahiti)

Baritone John is a performance artist and educator specializing in acting and singing. He regularly performs for The Pop-up Globe, New Zealand Opera, and The Court Theatre.

Emma Gilkison - Soloist (Knoxville) & Trio Soprano (Trouble in Tahiti)

Emma is an English-born Soprano, residing in South Canterbury, and regularly engaged to perform in productions and concerts around the region.

Nigel Withington - Bill (A Hand of Bridge) & Trio Tenor (Trouble in Tahiti)

Nigel is a Christchurch-based tenor who regularly performs for New Zealand Opera and Showbiz Christchurch.

Alex Robinson - David (A Hand of Bridge) & Trio Baritone (Trouble in Tahiti)

Alex is a regular baritone soloist and featured chorus member for New Zealand Opera, and is co-founder, trustee and Managing Director of Toi Toi Opera.

Katherine Doig - Geraldine (A Hand of Bridge)

Soprano Katherine is a regular soloist and featured chorus member for New Zealand Opera, Operations Manager of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and co-founder, trustee and Creative Director of Toi Toi Opera.

Helen Acheson - Sally (A Hand of Bridge)

Mezzo-soprano Helen graduated from the University of Auckland with First Class Honours in Performance Voice, and is a core member of Voices NZ Chamber Choir.

Creative & Musical Staff

Featured

Matthew Kereama - Director

Matthew is a stage and screen actor, singer, and director based in Auckland.

Rachel Fuller - Musical Director

Christchurch-born Rachel built her career as a collaborative pianist in London, and currently works at the University of Auckland.

Margot Button - Artistic Director

Mezzo-soprano Margot is co-founder, trustee and Artistic Director of Toi Toi Opera, and is the person responsible for the artistic focus and structure of the company.

Christy Lassen - Production Designer & Properties Manager

Christy is a Christchurch-based freelancer who dabbles in 'a little bit of everything theatre'.

Sheena Baines - Lighting Designer

Sheena is a Christchurch-based lighting designer who has lit numerous domestic and international productions.

Tina Thomas - Head of Costume

Tina is a costume designer based in Christchurch.

Deirdre Fell - Head of Hair & Makeup

Deirdre is a freelance makeup artist, and also works as a senior associate at a Christchurch-based law firm.

Danielle Rackham - Stage Manager

Danielle is a freelance Stage Manager based in Christchurch.

Jeremy Woodside - Répétiteur

Jeremy is a freelance organist, pianist, composer and musical director based in Christchurch.

Matthew Oswin - Répétiteur

Matthew is a répétiteur, accompanist, and classroom teacher based in Christchurch.

*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

‘Toi Toi Opera a company to watch after Barber and Bernstein double bill’ - The Press & Stuff - 21.08.2022

‘Innovative, Imaginative and Adventurous’ - Theatreview - 20.08.2022

‘Behind the Scenes with Toi Toi Opera’ - Toi Ōtautahi - 16.08.2022

Programme

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.

'A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill' Season Artwork

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)

Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), & Katherine Doig (Geraldine)

Alex Robinson (David), Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)

Nigel Withington (Bill), Katherine Doig (Geraldine), & Helen Acheson (Sally)

'Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) - Matilda Wickbom (Dinah), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & John Bayne (Sam)

Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)

Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano)

Matilda Wickbom (Dinah) & Matthew Harris (Double Bass)

Rachel Fuller (Musical Director & Pianist), Susan Dollin (Flute), John Robinson (Clarinet), & Doug Brush (Percussion & Drums)

John Bayne (Sam) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)

Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), John Bayne (Sam), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)

Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano) & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)

Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Matilda Wickbom (Dinah), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), & Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone)

Emma Gilkison (Trio Soprano), Nigel Withington (Trio Tenor), Alex Robinson (Trio Baritone), & Matilda Wickbom (Dinah)

'Trouble in Tahiti' (Bernstein) full cast

'A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill' full cast photo