Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes image

A passion for our art form

At The NBR New Zealand Opera we are passionate about our art form. At the heart of it all is our belief in the ability of opera to tell human stories with tremendous power and beauty.

We invite you to join us in sharing that passion. Discover more ABOUT US and find out what's going on behind the scenes, from Past Seasons to our Internships, Outreach programmes, Apprenticeships and acclaimed Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus - it's all go at New Zealand Opera.

Did you know?

Early opera resembled the atmosphere of a race course - chatting, food, laughter and loud comments were the norm.

During all our opera performances an English translation of the libretto is projected on screens above the stage, so you can easily follow the story.

If you are 25 years old or under you can purchase $25 tickets at the venue box office before any performance.

The world's longest opera is Wagner's The Ring Cycle, lasting over 14 hours plus intervals. That's 18 hours at the theatre.

The world's longest applause lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes as a standing ovation. The opera: Otello starring Placido Domingo.

On average, an opera will last between 2 and 3 hours, with one interval in a two act show, and two in a three act show. Operettas and musicals tend to be shorter.

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