Music
Theatre
Poetry
Magical music weaves the poetry of Hone Tuwhare and Cilla McQueen, exploring the danger and beauty of a fragile relationship
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Presented by: Opera Otago
From: Ōtepoti | Dunedin
"Moth at the window, The window dissolves, Wind in the stone, springs Sparks ... The trapeze artists Swing out and lock their iron wrists."
Stirred by the lyrical and edgy poems of Cilla McQueen and Hone Tuwhare, Louise Petherbridge (Director) commissioned Anthony Ritchie (Composer) to write this mystical mini-opera in 1996.
Dunedin has not forgotten the enchantment of The Trapeze Artists. However, nearly thirty years later, Opera Otago has been inspired to recreate its magic. Led by Terry MacTavish re-creating Louise's work, Ritchie's music is interpreted by Sanaz Resai with Lloyd Williams, and presenting an exciting new cast of stunning singers: Tessa Romano, Cathy Highton-Sim and Kieran Kelly.
"The Trapeze Artists stretches boundaries within the artform, with its varying styles and skilful use of symbolic action ... The Māori component in Hone Tuwhare's poetry ensures it reflects our bicultural heritage ... artistically convincing, of high quality, innovative, entertaining and appealing." (Fortune Theatre 1996)
"Look at the ragged mountains, roll up the road behind you, pull up the ladder. We must have magic!"
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