Hohepa

Hohepa is the true story of the friendship between Maori chief Hohepa and Pakeha settler Thomas Mason during the New Zealand Wars. Jenny McLeod, widely respected as one of New Zealand’s foremost composers, took up the task of writing the libretto and music of Hohepa in the late ’90s, and since then her research has been extensive, based on recorded, personal and oral histories. The result is a warm and at times humorous opera, epic yet very human at heart, and one New Zealanders will identify with.

Singing the title role is The NBR New Zealand Opera’s PwC Dame Malvina Major Young Artist, Phillip Rhodes. Alongside him are fellow New Zealanders Jonathan Lemalu, Jenny Wollerman, Martin Snell, Deborah Wai Kapohe, Eddie Muliaumaseali’i and Robert Tucker. A further ten singers take the remaining roles and form the ensemble. Hohepa is accompanied by players from the Vector Wellington Orchestra, conducted by Marc Taddei. It is sung in English and Maori.