When the curtain suddenly falls
Since March 2020 the performing arts worldwide have been hammered by gathering restrictions imposed to control the pandemic. Audiences have also dealt with many disappointments. New Zealand’s sector, returning to live performance sooner than in most countries, has been feeling somewhat fortunate. But what does it really mean to companies and artists when the curtain comes down without notice for sudden shifts in COVID alert levels? I went backstage to talk to some of the many people affected by Wellington’s shift to Level 2 (no gatherings bigger than 100) last week.
Emma Pearson as Countess Almaviva, Bianca Andrew as Cherubino
…”huge disappointment…”
Wellington’s recent move to COVID Alert Level 2 could hardly have been worse timing for New Zealand Opera. It came into force at 6pm the day their three-performance sold-out Wellington season of Mozart’s popular opera The Marriage of Figaro should have opened at 7.30pm. Clarissa Dunn, a Wellington chorus member, described as “devastating” learning that the season wouldn’t go ahead. “As a chorus, we’d worked hard and fast to contribute to something we were professionally proud of and genuinely moved by. Being unable to share that with an audience, a year after a previous Covid postponement, was gut-wrenching. There are so few opportunities to participate in full-stage opera at a professional level in New Zealand so each chance is deeply treasured.”
The Wellington cast and crew of The Marriage of Figaro on stage after their dress rehearsal, unaware that cancellation lay ahead…
The day after Figaro’s opening night the opera company had planned two premiere performances of RED!, a new children’s opera based on Red Riding Hood composed by New Zealander Lucy Mulgan. It was a joint production between NZ Opera and Orchestra Wellington. Hundreds of schoolchildren were excitedly anticipating a stage debut alongside New Zealand opera stars Jonathan Lemalu, soprano Natasha Wilson as Red and mezzo-soprano Catrin Johnsson as Mum/Granny.
“Cancelling RED! was quite numbing,” says internationally-acclaimed New Zealand-born Samoan bass Lemalu, cast as Wolfie in RED!. “We were all standing on stage at the Opera House finishing the sitzprobe [the first rehearsal with orchestra] when the news came in. Brent Stewart, our amazing conductor, was at first unaware of the decision and excited about the next day’s performances - while we all stood there looking at the ground as if it was a funeral .”
Of course there were financial impacts of the cancellations – NZ Opera had sold 3,000 seats for the Mozart season - but the emotional impact may have been even deeper. The new Figaro production had been planned since 2019 and had already been postponed from 2020. NZ Opera’s General Director Thomas de Mallet Burgess spoke of the “huge disappointment” experienced by everyone involved. “People work in the performing arts because they are passionate about what they do, no matter what role they have,” he said. “It takes resilience to pick ourselves up and carry on but that is what is necessary.”
New Zealand Opera’s General Director
Thomas de Mallet Burgess
“It takes resilience to pick ourselves up…”
The Marriage of Figaro had just travelled to the capital from a highly successful Auckland season and heads to Christchurch next (see dates below). Audience and cast had enjoyed the Wellington dress rehearsal two days earlier. But for Wellington chorus members, their performance opportunity has gone for now and although NZ Opera is keeping faith with contracts and paying fees, the only other likely compensation could be a concert performance after the Christchurch season. “The logistical work in rescheduling involves multiple parties including artists, orchestra, venue and contractors, says de Mallet Burgess. “That’s on top of managing changes to travel and accommodation for the Company. There are many additional costs involved so the impact is significant in time and money.”
Brent Stewart, Music Director of RED!, was upset about “having the rug pulled out from under us on the eve of this fabulous opera” but looked for a silver lining. “I’m so grateful” he said “that the children got an opportunity to rehearse with our principals earlier in the week. Catrin, Jonathan and Natasha are such talented and generous performers and that experience alone will have ignited operatic flames that will burn for decades to come.”
The sudden shift of alert levels had other impacts, cancelling NZ Trio’s Quartet for the End of Time Wellington concert with clarinettist Jonathan Cohen. Audiences were disappointed but the ensemble was able to continue northwards with their Chamber Music NZ tour.
But in a cruel stroke of misfortune, the Auckland Philharmonia had players in Wellington during the weekend COVID emerged, rehearsing as guest musicians with NZSO. APO was forced to postpone two Auckland concerts when those players took Level 2 home with them. The Orchestra had weathered multiple disruptions in 2020 with Auckland lockdowns and Chief Executive Barb Glaser said they couldn’t believe their bad luck this week. “The Baroque and Beyond concert postponement is particularly disappointing as this series is a new initiative. And the Community Classics postponement is also a huge blow, not just for our musicians but also for solo singer Te Pumanawa o Toku Ate Rogers, harpist Ingrid Bauer, and the Auckland Gospel Choir who were singing with us for the first time.”
Remarkably, all the organisations and artists I spoke to shrugged off these significant disappointments. Not one complained about the Level 2 restrictions. “I fully support our government’s decision to temporarily pause mass-gatherings, and I’m confident we will still present RED! sometime in the next few months,” said Stewart. “At all times,” said de Mallet Burgess “we’ve taken into account the health and well-being of everyone involved.”
What also emerged during my conversations was a strong sense of solidarity within the performing arts sector. “We are all really feeling for all our colleagues in Wellington and especially NZ Opera and Orchestra Wellington,” said Glaser.
Jonathan Lemalu
“…disappointed for the kids…”
Lemalu, who flew back to the UK yesterday and will not be playing Wolfie any time soon, focussed on the rest of the RED! team. “I’m more disappointed for the kids and their teachers, families and schools ,” he said. “There was a HUGE amount of excitement in five wonderful schools, and it was a real buzz to see hundreds of children having diligently learnt their words, tunes and choreography. Music doesn’t care about socio-economic areas, amateurs or professionals - it’s for everyone and this project personified and celebrated that. They sang and performed their hearts out – they’re the future of our industry. They took my breath away.”
NZ Opera The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart Christchurch season July 8-13, bookings here.
See New Zealand Opera’s website for news about future performances of cancelled shows.