Think you don't like opera? Let La boheme change your mind
2. Drama without missing a single word
One of the biggest hesitations around going to your first opera is the understandable thought that you wouldn't have the foggiest what anyone is saying. But NZ Opera performances have subtitles projected above the stage, translating everything we sing into English. You can even get the translation directly to your device in Braille or Chinese. Think of it like a foreign film, but with an orchestra - and incredible singing.
- Baritone Hadleigh Adams, who plays Colline
3. One seat, infinite art
This opera is an opportunity to see multiple art forms in one sitting. There is nothing quite like bringing a group of artists of multiple disciplines (instrumentalists, singers, actors, directors, designers and more) together to tell one epic tale that has transcended the test of time and still leaves a lasting impact on its viewers. The opera is not just a night out but an opportunity to go on a journey - all from the comfort of a plush theatre seat.
- Soprano Elena Perroni, who plays Mimì
4. Drama and shenanigans
This opera has more drama than Shortland St, more shenanigans than Police 10-7 and a cafe that would outshine any Māngere Bridge cafe.
- Baritone Benson Wilson, who plays Schaunard
5. The death you won't hear coming
If you think deaths in opera are endless, loud and unbelievable, so did Puccini! In La bohème, he wrote a naturalistic death. In fact, we only realise it's happened after the fact. It's a brilliant sleight of hand.
- Brad Cohen, conductor of the Auckland season
6. Your new favourite troublemaker: Musetta
My character is the type of person who causes drama if they are not the centre of attention. Musetta exploits her sexuality, rages and lies to win whatever she desires. She has intense feelings for her sometimes-lover, the penniless artist Marcello, but they never last long together. In the final act, tragedy shocks her into feeling a vulnerable, deeper love for him, making this role a wonderful journey to take and a favourite for sopranos to sing. And her drama-queen antics are next level.
- Soprano Emma Pearson, who plays Musetta
7. Love, loss and lots of laughs
Come for the romance, stay for the freezing attic, catchy tunes and suspiciously sudden coughing. With bohemian banter, accidental arson, and an opera chorus big enough to raise the roof, who knew tragedy could be this much fun?
- Bruno Ravella, director
8. Real life meets live magic
What I love about this opera is how grounded it feels - the characters are messy, in love, and completely recognisable. The design feels lived in and accessible, a reflection of a world not so different from our own. I'm so excited to move into the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, as I hear the singers every day in rehearsal, but that first run with the orchestra in the venue always stops me in my tracks. Once we layer in the technical elements, suddenly we're in the goosebump zone that exists only in live theatre.
- Chanelle Muirhead, stage manager
9. It's basically a romcom
If you believe in love, you should come. If you believe in friendship, you should come. If you're sick of Netflix, you should come. It's the Love Actually of opera, and who doesn't love Love Actually?
- Baritone Samuel Dundas, who plays Marcello
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NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- NZ Herald
When Ozzy Osbourne came to NZ he had just one wild request
Coburn said a cross made of wood and wire, wrapped in petrol-soaked rags, was hastily erected and set alight as the band began to play, as requested by Osbourne. The Black Sabbath frontman and solo artist has died aged 76, just weeks after a massive farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham. Coburn said Osbourne and Black Sabbath laid the foundations for heavy metal and – 50 years after the band first played New Zealand – he still saw and heard the singer's influence in hard rock music all over the world. 'To think that two weeks after the final shows he's gone – it seemed like – did he want to hang on and do these final shows? But he's just this iconic figure that's so singularly unique. There'll never be another Ozzy Osbourne," Coburn said. Speaking to RNZ from his home in Nashville, Coburn said that despite the band's ominous image and Osbourne's wild, drug-fuelled reputation, the band were affable and 'jovial' on their first New Zealand visit. Ozzy Osbourne onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Photo / Getty Images 'They were decent, they were just young English guys. They didn't cause any of the grief that John Bonham and Led Zeppelin caused. Televisions thrown in the swimming pool at the White Heron Hotel and the like,' the promoter said. 'I don't have any memories of Ozzy and the guys being anything other than jovial and amused by everything. They just seemed to be in good humour and I've got great memories of that.' Coburn said he still went to heavy metal shows – his son performs in American sludge metal band Thou – and said Osbourne and Black Sabbath's influence was still as strong as ever. 'They were such a primary foundation of what became heavy metal. I've been to so many shows, and there are still always people wearing Black Sabbath T-shirts. 'They really were the beginning of it all – of the whole metal scene. When I go to see bands, it's [still] not unusual to hear Paranoid or something,' Coburn said. Marty Duda, founder of New Zealand music publication 13th Floor, said Osbourne's impact was 'immense' and would continue after his death. Duda remembered first hearing the band on a cassette recording of Paranoid while at a Boy Scouts camp and 'it changed everything – blew my mind'. Osbourne's voice was exactly what a teenager wanted to hear: 'He nailed it.' The musician went on to create a strong persona for himself, later making the transition to a solo career. He said Osbourne's wife, Sharon, needed to be given credit for the role she played in his career because he had many problems, including drug addiction, but she saw his potential as a solo artist. Duda recalled being present when Osbourne was preparing for a concert, wanted to gargle and then consumed a whole bottle of mouthwash. 'He drank the whole thing, almost choked to death, puked all over the place and then went on stage – he didn't even know how to gargle. He needed to be watched.' Duda said that on his TV hit reality show, The Osbournes, Osbourne was 'lovable'. 'You wanted him to be your dad ... and knowing that he had this background as the guy who helped start heavy metal didn't hurt at all. Those Black Sabbath albums hold up very well today.' The president of the NZ Promoters Association, Layton Lillas, was shocked to hear of Osbourne's death. He told RNZ's Morning Report it was 'horrible news' to wake up to, coming so soon after Osbourne's farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham just two weeks ago. Lillas recalled becoming a fan of Osbourne when he launched a solo career. He had 'amazing guitar players' and 'a unique voice'. 'The guy was the godfather of hard rock and heavy metal – just an amazing life from a guy who started in the poor suburbs of Birmingham after the war, and to do what he did and achieved, amazing.' Lillas said the singer had a unique voice with 'an incredibly high range'. 'No one sounds like Ozzy Osbourne ... the range was something to behold and for a guy that abused his body like he did for so many years ...' He last saw Osbourne perform in Wellington in 2008, and 'he was certainly on fire that night'. In the late 90s, Lillas had a habit of popping out to Auckland Airport to try to get the autographs of famous rock stars. All he wanted was a photo of Osbourne, but he ended up with a photograph of his late wife with the musician, and it takes pride of place in his music room. The Black Sabbath frontman was apologetic but said he couldn't do any more as he needed to board his flight. – RNZ
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Ozzy Osbourne's wild request when he came to NZ
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne at the Great Ngāruawāhia Music Festival in 1973. Photo: David Stone/AudioCulture via RNZ The music promoter who brought Black Sabbath to New Zealand in 1973 said the frontman was "calm and jovial" despite his edgy reputation. The music promoter who brought Black Sabbath to New Zealand in 1973, Barry Coburn said - despite Osbourne's wild reputation - the singer was "calm and jovial" but with one unusual request. Coburn said he was called to the group's caravan shortly before they took to the stage at the Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival. "He said 'listen when we go onstage at midnight we want to have a huge burning cross up on the hillside. When we come on stage suddenly this big cross burns up on the hillside behind where they are'," Coburn said. Coburn said a cross made of wood and wire - wrapped in petrol-soaked rags - was hastily erected and set alight as the band began to play. The Black Sabbath frontman and solo artist died just weeks after a massive farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham, aged 76. Image: Supplied Coburn said Osbourne and Black Sabbath laid the foundations for heavy metal and - 50 years after the band first played New Zealand - he still saw and heard the singer's influence in hard rock music all over the world. "To think that two weeks after the final shows he's gone - it seemed like - did he want to hang on and do these final shows? But he's just this iconic figure that's so singularly unique. There'll never be another Ozzy Osbourne," Coburn said. Speaking to RNZ from his home in Nashville, Coburn said - despite the band's ominous image and Osbourne's wild, drug fueled reputation - the band were affable and "jovial" on their first New Zealand visit. "They were decent, they were just young English guys. They didn't cause any of the grief that John Bonham and Led Zeppelin caused. Televisions thrown in the swimming pool at the White Heron Hotel and the like. "I don't have any memories of Ozzy and the guys being anything other than jovial and amused by everything. They just seemed to be in good humour and I've got great memories of that," Coburn said. Coburn said he still went to heavy metal shows - his son performs in American sludge metal band, Thou - and said Osbourne and Black Sabbath's influence were still as strong as ever. "They were such a primary foundation of what became heavy metal. I've been to so many shows and there's still always people wearing Black Sabbath T-Shirts. "They really were the beginning of it all - of the whole metal scene. When I go to see bands it's [still] not unusual to hear 'Paranoid' or something," Coburn said. Marty Duda, founder of New Zealand music publication 13th Floor, said Osbourne's impact was "immense" and would continue after his death. Duda remembered first hearing the band on a cassette recording of 'Paranoid' while at a Boy Scouts' camp and "it changed everything - blew my mind". Osborne's voice was exactly what a teenager wanted to hear: "He nailed it." He went on to create a strong persona for himself, later making the transition to a solo career. He said wife Sharon needed to be given credit for the role she played in his career because he had many problems, including drug addiction, but she saw his potential as a solo artist. Ozzy Osbourne with daughter Kelly in 1985. Duda recalled being present when Osborne was preparing for a concert, wanted to gargle and then consumed a whole bottle of mouthwash. "He drank the whole thing, almost choked to death, puked all over the place and then went on stage - he didn't even know how to gargle. He needed to be watched." Duda said on his TV hit reality show, The Osbournes, Osborne was "loveable". "You wanted him to be your dad ... and knowing that he had this background as the guy who helped start heavy metal didn't hurt at all. Those Black Sabbath albums hold up very well today." The president of the NZ Promoters Association Layton Lillas was shocked to hear of Osbourne's death. Ozzy Osbourne performing in 1982. He told RNZ's Morning Report it was "horrible news" to wake up to, coming so soon after Osborne's farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham just two weeks ago. Lillas recalled becoming a fan of Osborne when he launched a solo career. He had "amazing guitar players" and "a unique voice". "The guy was the Godfather of hard rock and heavy metal - just an amazing life from a guy who started in the poor suburbs of Birmingham after the war and to do what he did and achieved, amazing." Lillas said the singer had a unique voice with "an incredibly high range". "No-one sounds like Ozzy Osborne... the range was something to behold and for a guy that abused his body like he did for so many years..." He last saw Osborne perform in Wellington in 2008 and "he was certainly on fire that night". - By Bill Hickman and Morning Report
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