Competition sidelines opera tour

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's biggest opera company has cancelled a regional tour next year, blaming unprecedented competition from other shows.

NBR New Zealand Opera will set up a foundation to raise more money and offer cheaper tickets and matinee sessions to attract larger audiences.

General director Alex Reedijk said more than 50,000 people saw its four productions this year, including Cosi Fan Tutte, which toured the North Island, Blenheim, Nelson and Greymouth.

Ticket sales were about the same as last year, but the company was competing with more New Zealand and overseas touring shows this year. Mr Reedijk said more overseas shows had toured because of the strength of the New Zealand dollar. This was likely to continue next year.

Coupled with financial restraints and sponsorship commitments, plans to tour a production next year had been cancelled, he said.

The company would tour in 2006 instead and then every two years.

After he took over running the company in 2002, Mr Reedijk instituted annual tours for 2003 and this year.

It was the first time in 20 years that an opera company had toured the regions.

Auckland would host a one-off performance of The Death of Klinghoffer next February in a partnership with the Auckland Festival and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, said Mr Reedijk.

The company would also establish the New Zealand Opera Foundation, with 11 trustees headed by the company's board chairman, David Gascoigne. This was to encourage people to bequest part or all of their estate to the company.

Mr Reedijk said this was common practice for arts organisations overseas. He hoped it would raise about $10 million within a decade.

- NZPA