Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Arts groups’ combine for comic opera
An unusual collaboration of three arts groups in Blenheim will see the English comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore staged in the town.
Blenheim Choral, Marlborough Civic Orchestra and Marlborough Academy of Dance have come together for the first time to bring to the region the comic opera, which was originally written by Englishmen Arthur Sullivan and William Schwenck Gilbert.
Blenheim Choral musical director Robert Tucker said the opera would be funny in its ridiculousness.
“I wanted something with good tunes that the choir would enjoy singing, something comical and light,” he said.
Tucker, who has been working for the past 20 years with New Zealand Opera and other operatic companies, said he fell in love with the English opera while studying at the University of Otago.
He is originally from Dunedin, but now lives in Blenheim with his wife and three daughters.
And lately he thought the comic opera would be well-suited to the Marlborough public, he said, so he approached the orchestra and the academy of dance to see if they would be interested.
“And they were very keen.“
Tucker said the arts community in Blenheim was quite small and people were very enthusiastic about it. “We all know each other.”
Tucker, who recently worked on the production Unruly Tourists, said it would be the first time the choir had worked on an opera. He said he enjoyed the comic opera, its drama and the way it was able to portray stories. H.M.S. Pinafore is a story about the daughter of a sailor torn between choosing romantic or arranged love. The story was written in the late 19th century and covers social themes such as class, politics and duty.
Tucker said that the level of the opera would challenge the community choir, which was in need of more singers for the show.
He said at the moment they had between 40 and 50 singers, depending on the days. But they would need around 40 more for the realisation of the opera, Tucker said.
He invited every singer in the region to consider the opportunity.
“I would always love more singers, not just because it makes a better sound ... and looks more impressive.
“I also think singing is beneficial to people, you know, there has been countless studies that have shown the benefits of singing in a choir and how good it is for your mental health and physical health.“
A preliminary rehearsal for the opera will be held on at 7pm on Tuesday at the Wesley Centre on Henry St.
The opera will be staged at ASB Theatre Marlborough on September 7 and 8.