World Premiere
'Kaua e mate wheke, mate ururoa’ | ‘Don’t die like an octopus, die like a hammerhead shark’
Gallipoli, 1915. A captain in the Native Contingent disobeys his commander’s orders to save the lives of his men.
A true story of the heroism and humiliation of Captain Roger Dansey, a Māori soldier on the frontline of a European war, Mate Ururoa is an urgent new chamber opera from legendary New Zealand composer Dame Gillian Whitehead (Ngai Te Rangi, Tuhoe).
With the originally planned 2021 premiere at New York’s Carnegie Hall cancelled due to the pandemic, Wellington Opera is proud to present the world premiere of this important new work by one of Aotearoa’s greatest living artists here in Pōneke.
Performed in English and te reo Māori by Māori-American baritone David Tahere alongside acclaimed taonga pūoro practitioner and mezzo Ariana Tikao, with director Sara Brodie and Aotearoa's leading new music ensemble, Stroma, conducted by Hamish McKeich.
11 July 7.30pm
12 July 7.30pm
13 July 2.30pm
Captain Roger Dansey – David Tahere
Taonga pūoro and voice - Ariana Tikao
Stroma
Conductor - Hamish McKeich
Director - Sara Brodie
Sung in te reo Māori and English, with surtitles
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Together with another World War I story:
Notes from the Front
by Ross Harris
Richard Greager - Tenor
Performance duration is approximately 55 minutes