[Presented by Te Pou Theatre and New Zealand Opera]
It was a pleasure to attend Tōiri, a showcase of Aotearoa’s rising opera stars, hosted by the enigmatic Kawiti Waetford. The evening featured renditions of operatic greats, from Verdi and Puccini to Bizet. The twist — everything was performed in te reo Māori.
There were stunning performances by Te Ohorere Williams, Tomairangi Henare, and Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono, all set to perform in Rigoletto later in the week. It was a real treat to hear their voices in this context before the full NZO production.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments was Tomairangi Henare’s performance of the Toreador Song (Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre) from Bizet’s Carmen. Sung in te reo Māori, Henare elevated the number by weaving in elements of haka, adding a unique Māori interpretation to Escamillo’s cheeky grandeur.
Alongside the operatic repertoire, the inclusion of contemporary pieces from Les Misérables, such as Bring Him Home (Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono) and Stars (Tomairangi Henare), provided familiar territory for musical theatre fans, all while inviting the audience to listen in the sounds and rhythms of Te Reo Māori.
There was also a special performance by Majic Pāora and to close out, Kawiti Waetford’s rendition of Ka Mate Ka Mate. Both were stunning additions to the night’s line up.
What made Tōiri truly innovative was the translation of French and Italian operatic works into te reo Māori. While we often see French translated to English, or English to te reo, it’s rare to see the transition from French to te reo Māori. This performance expanded the world of translations, highlighting the beauty and complexity of such work.
For many opera-goers, myself included, translations or subtitles are the only way to understand foreign-language operas. But, as the evening progressed, I realised I understood more kupu Māori than French or Italian, which is a testament to the growing presence and accessibility of te reo Māori in our daily lives.
I left the performance feeling deeply moved, entranced from start to finish. I hope that there is more to come for opera in te reo Māori, and I would love to see a full translation hosted at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in the future. Tōiri showed the only limit to ways te reo Māori can be experienced is your imagination and I challenge the NZO to take on this journey.
Tōiri played Te Pou Theatre on the 16th of September 2024
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