Northland musical event Opera in the Garden returns

Composer Emma Couper, centre, is championing the return of Opera in the Garden, along with Opera North singers including Christian Dally, Jasper Satterfield, Kate Alexander, Aileen Cordiner, Gabriella Uphof, Kaiser Jacoby, Olivia Cloherty, Ellie Cloherty and Narimahn Bahrinipour. Photo / Denise Piper

A family-friendly outdoor music event that aims to make opera singing accessible to all is returning to Northland.

Opera in the Garden is returning this month but will be held at a new venue: Tahamoana Angora Goat Farm in Waipu Cove.

The event used to be held in the Glenbervie garden of late singing teacher Joan Kennaway and her husband Richard, and last ran in 2019.

Kennaway created community choir Opera North, then ran Opera in the Garden as one of the few places for Northlanders to experience opera singing, conductor Emma Couper said.

“For me, the highlight of Opera North was Opera in the Garden - it always had a renowned guest and it was so good for the young kids to see what opera was like on stage.”

Kennaway died from cancer in 2018 and, without the event’s architect, Opera in the Garden floundered with the likes of Covid restrictions.

Opera in the Garden was last held in 2019, attracting an audience of nearly 1000. Photo / NZME

Opera North has continued as a community choir and performed at a range of events including concerts at Forum North.

Couper said it was always her dream to revive the beloved outdoor event, which attracted up to 1000 people.

“I really wanted to bring Opera in the Garden back because of the memories that I associated with it: It had such a buzz and people would come back time and time again,” she said.

Rather than relying on one person like Kennaway, Opera North now has a strong team to help run the event, including Couper, chairwoman Maria Satterfield, Roger McClean and Delwyn Rusk.

Deborah Wai Kapohe is the guest singer for this year's event.

Opera North is also buoyed by recent success at the World Choir Games, held in Auckland in July 2024, where its 25-member chamber choir won a gold medal, putting it among the top performers in the world.

All of this means Opera North is now ready to perform a great Opera in the Garden on March 22, with songs covering classic opera to musical theatre, Couper said.

This year’s guest is Deborah Wai Kapohe, an internationally renowned soprano and guitarist.

Local soloists include Shaan Kloet and Theresa Wells, and the afternoon will start with a performance by jazz cover band Keys and Dreams.

Audience members are encouraged to dress up in the theme of a 1930s garden party.

The event will also include food stalls but everyone is welcome to bring a picnic. The family-friendly event includes free entry for accompanied children.

Go to operanorth.co.nz for tickets.

• This story has been corrected as Emma Couper is the conductor of Opera North, not the composer, and Joan Kennaway died from cancer in 2018.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.