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Opera North is marking its 30th anniversary this month with the return of its much-loved Opera in the Garden at Tahamoana Farm, Waipu Cove.
This year’s concert features guest soloists Sarah Mileham and Alfred Fonoti Fuimaono, two of New Zealand’s most exciting emerging opera talents.
Mileham, a 23-year-old soprano from Tauranga, has enjoyed a meteoric rise, making her NZ Opera debut in 2024 and sweeping major aria competitions across the country last year.
Fuimaono, a Samoan baritone from Hastings, has earned national and international acclaim, including success at the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award.
Both singers are widely regarded as future stars of the international stage.
They will be joined by pianists Juan Kim, Mirabella Uphof and Delwyn Franklin, along with local choirs Te Korihi o te Tui and the Holee Cow Singers.
Opera North was founded by the late Joan Kennaway and Richard Kennaway to bring opera to regional communities. Today, many of Joan’s former students lead the organisation, including her daughter Bronwyn Kennaway.
This will be the second year Tahamoana Farm, at 566 Cove Road, has hosted Opera in the Garden. Its grounds provide a natural amphitheatre overlooking the coast, and the event is hosted by Debi and Dave Brown. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, chairs and blankets, or purchase refreshments onsite.
The open-air concert will be held on Saturday March 21, from 1pm to 4pm, offering an afternoon of world-class music in one of Northland’s most picturesque settings.
Tickets are $58 via Eventfinda, with accompanied children admitted free. More information is available at www.operanorth.co.nz.
