A very modern symphony
Maori Quartet and NZSO ready to party, writes Dionne Christian
Spend the better part of a year in Germany performing in the megamusical The Lion King or return to New Zealand for a history- making tour with some of your best friends?
For actor and founding member of the Modern Maori Quartet, Matu Ngaropo, there was no contest. Ngaropo spent two years in Australia performing various roles in The
Lion King but came home when he heard about the quartet’s latest adventure.
The quartet — James Tito, Maaka Pohatu, Matariki Whatarau and Francis Kora — join the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for a 12- centre tour of the country which begins in Napier on Thursday and ends in Gisborne in mid- March.
In between, they’ll travel from Whangarei to Invercargill performing largely original material in English and te reo Maori, as well as
arrangements of Haere Mai, Pakanga, Aroha, Ten Guitars and the 1970s R& B hit Float On. While NZSO associate conductor Hamish McKeich leads the orchestra, Ngaropo is musical director and dramaturge for the quartet. Music has been arranged by seven composers including Gareth Farr, Mahuia BridgmanCooper and Chris Gendall and will be performed by the quartet and some 65 NZSO musicians. The quartet usually performs with two guitars, a bass guitar and a Peruvian box- shaped drum called a cajon. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Kora. While Tito says they’ve worked with a range of musicians in the past and played in a variety of venues, this is the biggest tour they’ve tackled and they’re not taking it lightly. The four singers have been working out with a personal trainer and are on healthy eating plans. “We have to build cardiovascular capacity because the NZSO has a level of virtuosity that needs to be matched,” says Pohatu. “It’s a case of being ‘ business- ready’.” Tito describes the NZSO as masters of what they do and people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting music- making. “I am just as excited as I am nervous. As a quartet, this will be a new level in our development and journey so I can’t wait to seize the opportunity with my brothers beside me.” Whatarau says the quartet doesn’t just want to walk on stage, play some music and leave. “We don’t make it just like any other gig; anybody can do that,” he says. “We want to make it an experience and engage with the audience.” They liken the atmosphere they want to create to a garage party — but in a very flash garage. Influenced by and paying homage to Maori show bands like the Hi- Marks, Maori Volcanics, Maori Hi- Five and The Howard Morrison Quartet, the quartet has become one of the biggest things in NZ entertainment in recent years. While it’s played throughout the Pacific, Asia, Britain and even at the Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival in Uzbekistan, it’s never performed in Gisborne. “It was time to do something about that,” says Whatarau.