Ihitai ‘Avei’a — Star Navigator

19 to 20 March, BNZ Theatre, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, South Auckland

The world premiere of a beautiful, haunting new work by composer Tim Finn with Tahitian monologues by Célestine Hitiura Vaite tells the story of Tupaia, the Tahitian star navigator who sailed with James Cook on the maiden voyage of HMS Endeavour in 1769. Ihitai ‘Avei’a — Star Navigator explores the relationship between two master mariners — Tupaia and a British naval officer — both far from home and unable to find their way into each other’s vastly different worlds. The event has a high-profile operatic line-up that includes Amitai Pati, Paul Whelan and Natasha Wilson with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra, the Graduate Choir and Auckland Choral. nzopera.com