Opera Gala 2026 was a sumptuous night of music in Auckland’s Town Hall presented by Auckland Opera Studio and the Manukau Symphony Orchestra. It featured music and arias from some of opera’s greatest composters and performed by an outstanding cast of musicians and singers.
The evening kicked off with two pieces from Verdi’s opera Il Trovatore. The magnificent Anvil Chorus with the orchestra and Auckland Choral delivering a rousing and passionate piece of music performed beautifully by the orchestra and the sublime voices of Auckland Choral.
Soprano Breony Bearman followed with Tacea la notte placida bringing a tenderness and depth to Leonora’s her love of a mysterious wandering minstrel. Beginning somewhat gently but building in intensity, Bearman captured its lyricism and power.
Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana was filled with grief. In Voi lo sapete Bearman delivered a tender performance that perfectly captured the heartbreak Santuzza feels after being abandoned by her lover.
The orchestra’s performance the famous Intermezzo was both serene and gently melancholic and offered a moment of divine tranquility to those listening. This was in contrast with the soaring Easter Hymn featuring Bearman, Anneliese Sayes and Auckland Choral. The juxtaposition of Santuzza, shunned by her everyone and the community’s joyful celebration of Christ and his resurrection was deeply affecting.
The programme then turned to Massenet’s Thaïs. The orchestral Meditation featuring guest violinist Amalia Hall was simply exquisite. Felicity Tomkins followed with Dis-moi que je suis belle which captured the vulnerability and vanity of Thaïs as she reflects about aging.
Tomkins made this self-reflective moment sweet and very poignant.
The first half of the night concluded with the dramatic finale from Gounod’s Faust. In Alerte! Alerte! Breony Bearman, Ridge Ponini and Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono combined to deliver a thrilling and emotionally charged scene that was simply magnificent.
The second half opened with Amelia Hall as the soloist in Pablo de Sarasate dazzling Carmen Fantasy. Inspired by Bizet’s opera, this piece requires formidable technical skill and Hall delivered it with precision and flair, superbly supported by the orchestra.
Bizet’s Carmen then followed with two quite different pieces. Ridge Ponini brought a heartfelt rendition of La fleur que tu m’avais jetée beautifully conveying Don José’s love and devotion for Carmen.
The mood then lifted dramatically with Les voici! Voici la quadrille featuring Auckland Choral and The Cloud Children’s Choir. These combined voices created one of the most endearing moments of the evening with the children adding a wonderful sweetness the aria.
Puccini’s Te Deum from Tosca took the evening to a darker place. Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono’s commanding portrayal of Scarpia was wonderfully brooding and emotionally charged.
The programme concluded with Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. The Intermezzo was both deeply sad and yet, very contemplative. It served as a bridge to the final act where Manon is dying. Felicity Tomkins and Ridge Ponini gave devastatingly emotional performances bringing a genuine tenderness and heartbreak to the piece.
Following the well-deserved applause the company returned for with an encore of How Great Thou Art sung in both te reo and English. It was a lovely end to a delightful evening.
