upcoming PROjects
Romeo & Juliette - Festival Opera
C. Gounod
Singing Juliet
13-19 February 2024
Napier Municipal Theatre
Experience the most famous love story of all time like never before, with Festival Opera.
You’ll be swept away by the intoxicating French flair for romance in this classic retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Composer Charles Gounod brings seemingly effortless beauty and rousing anthems to this tale of two star-crossed lovers whose passionate romance unfolds amidst a backdrop of relentless hatred between two warring families. It’s a story that tells of the ultimate sacrifice, the burden of loyalty, and the boundless power of love. The opera is set in the Renaissance era, and with its lush melodies and stirring arias, performed by a full symphonic orchestra and cast of world class opera singers, this production will transport you to a world where love conquers all.
Join Festival Opera for the ultimate ‘Date Night’ and enjoy a captivating evening filled with passion and drama.
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!
NZ Opera with Opus Orchestra
25th February, 2024 (Sun) 3:00pm
PRODUCED BY
Hamilton Arts Festival / Toi Ora Ki Kirikiriroa
New Zealand Opera and Opus Orchestra take you on a musical journey celebrating some of opera's most cherished characters including Figaro, The Countess, and the ever-alluring Susanna!
Hear selections from celebrated operas such as Rossini’s Barber of Seville and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, each echoing the narratives of Beaumarchais' comedic novels. With entrancing arias, duets, and trios delivered by NZ Opera’s talented soloists and accompanied by Opus Orchestra, this concert is set to be a monumental display of operatic splendour.
Conductor: Peter Walls
Director: Frances Moore
Soloists:
Joanna Foote: Soprano (Susanna)
Tomairangi Henare: Baritone (Figaro)
Allison Harker: Mezzo-Soprano (Rosina, Cherubino)
Mansfield Park - NZOpera
17-21 April Auckland and Wellington
Playing Mary Crawford
Open the door on the hidden world of the Regency drawing room, as we dive into Jane Austen’s timeless tale of manners, marriage, and money. This unique production, staged in some of our most exquisite historic venues, promises an intimate musical experience that Austen herself would have relished.
Meet our charming heroine, Fanny, pin-sharp but poor and head over heels for her cousin Edmund. Edmund, training to become a clergyman, finds himself captivated by their new neighbour, Mary. Mary’s charismatic brother, Henry, has his sights set on none other than Fanny. But can she trust his intentions? And what about Fanny’s uncle, Sir Thomas, who insists that she must accept Henry – and his £4,000 a year?
Austen’s wit is famous, but Fanny, a character of understated grace, unveils her emotions not just through touching arias and conversations, but through the profound eloquence of silence. It’s a true embodiment of Georgian decorum, taken to the extreme. Accompanying this tale is Jonathan Dove’s elegant score, intricately composed for singers and piano in chamber setting, seamlessly weaving into the era’s atmosphere.
Join us as we step back in time to explore the delicate dance of love, ambition, and societal expectations in Austen’s world.
17 & 18 April, 2024, 7:30 pm, Public Trust HallTe Whanganui a Tara, Wellington
21 April, 2024, 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Settlers Country Manor, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland
PAST PROjects
Bach Musica
Christmas Oratorio
Bach Christmas Oratorio Parts 1 – 3
Rita Paczian Conductor
Joanna Foote Soprano
Stephen Diaz Countertenor
Iain Tetley Tenor
James Harrison Bass
Auckland Town Hall, Sunday 10th December 2023.
“The soloist with the smallest workload was Soprano Joanna Foote. However, she did not need much exposure to demonstrate the distinct quality of her light soprano voice. Her brief ’Fuerchtet euch nicht’ announcement to the shepherds in part II was most convincing.
This was further endorsed by her part III aria in duet with James Harrison’s bass “Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen”…….. Here, Joanna Foote leaves us in no doubt about her inherent musical intuition and the strength and encompassing beauty of her cultivated soprano voice.” - Rainer Buhmann, 23/12/23.
Bach Musica
Poulenc Gloria
Sunday 25th June, 2023, 5pm
Auckland Town Hall
“The remarkable Joanna Foote took on its demanding soprano solo with only two days notice. Superbly and effortlessly projected without any sacrifice of sweet tone, this was a performance that would have given great joy to its composer as it did to the audience” - William Dart, The New Zealand Herald.
NZOpera: Opera on the Harbour - Carousel in Concert
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Cancelled due to Covid.
Carousel was named Time magazine’s best musical of the 20th Century. Spend an evening under the stars this Valentines weekend with the city as a backdrop to the harbour to experience a profound story of lovers, their struggles and the power of forgiveness. Directed by Jacqueline Coats, conducted by Paul Christ and featuring some of this country’s finest operatic and musical theatre talent. Opera on the Harbour is set to become the summer event everyone is talking about. Enjoy this stunning concert from a purpose built outdoor stadium on Wynyard Wharf with fireworks to finish.
Auckland Choral Messiah
Auckland Town Hall.
December 17th & 18th, 2022.
“Joanna Foote had great stage presence…..She excelled in some of her singing notably in the duet “He Shall feed his His flock” while her singing “I know my redeemer livith” showed her ability to project and to use her luxurious voice to create an intimacy with the audience.” John Daly-Peoples, New Zealand Arts Review.
“Soprano Joanna Foote and Baritone James Harrison deputised magnificently at short notice for two indisposed soloists…………Joanna Foote’s effortless ornamentation in “I know that my redeemer liveth” had lost none of its charm from her performance two years ago”. William Dart, New Zealand Herald.
December 1st, 2022. 7:30pm.
Wellington Opera House, Maestro Brent Stewart leads the Orchestra Wellington in "East/West: A Symphonic Celebration" featuring soloists: Programme Director of Classical Performance and Head of Piano Studies at New Zealand School of Music Dr.Jian Liu (piano), Joanna Foote (soprano), and Bo Jiang (tenor). Monday, September 19th, 2022.
The Cunning Little Vixen
By Leoš Janáček
FESTIVAL OPERA - HAWKE’S BAY ARTS FESTIVAL
July 27th & 28th, 2022. Toitoi Opera House, Napier.
Director John Wilkie and Conductor José Aparicio will lead an outstanding cast featuring Soprano Joanna Foote as the Vixen, Baritone Samuel McKeever (Project Prima Volta Graduate) as the Forester, Soprano Anna Pierard as the Fox, Bass-Baritone James Ioelu as the Parson, Tenor Lila LJ Crichton (Project Prima Volta Graduate) as the Schoolmaster, Baritone Fa'amanu Fonoti-Fuimaono (Project Prima Volta Graduate) as the Poacher and Soprano Sarah Walmsley as the Forester’s Wife.
The piece will showcase over 130 performers onstage, including the phenomenal Hawke's Bay Orchestra players and a lively chorus of woodland creatures sung by Project Prima Volta Senior and Project Prima Volta Junior students.
Handel Samson
Bach Musica
Sunday 3 July 2022 at 5pm – Auckland Town Hall
Rita Paczian Conductor, Joanna Foote Soprano, Kate Spence Alto, Andrew Grenon Tenor, Samuel McKeever Bass, Joel Amosa Bass.
“….set pieces stood out. Joanna Foote’s Delilah was responsible for two, before she and trumpeter Stephen Bellman triumphed in “Let the bright seraphim”. Having sweetly duetted with violinist Miranda Hutton in “With plaintive notes and am’rous moan”, Foote made even sweeter harmonies with fine soprano Emma Roxburgh…..”
Auckland Choral Society
Saturday 30th April, Holy Trinity Cathedral, 7:30pm.
Auckland Choral Society present a divinely inspired evening including Schubert’s Mass D167, Brahms Vocal Quartets, Esenvalds “Only in Sleep” and Mendellsohn’s “Hear My Prayer”.
Uwe Grodd conductor, Joanna Foote soprano, Dilys Fong mezzo soprano, Andrew Grenon tenor, Bradley Christensen bass, Philip Smith organ, Rosemary Barnes piano, Auckland Choral Society and the Pipers Sinfonia.
Virtual Music Project 2021
In collaboration with Berlin Artist Markus Hoffman. Sound performance project revisiting post colonial trajectories of pollution. Stay tuned for Infinite recitations of starting points.
NZOpera. Role of Susanna. Director: Lindy Hume, Conductor: Zoe Zeniodi.
Auckland Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre. 8th, 10th, 13th June, 2021.
Wellington Opera House. 23rd, 25th, 27th June, 2021
Christchurch Isaac Theatre Royal. 8th, 10th, 13th July, 2021.
https://nzopera.com/event/the-marriage-of-figaro/
Auckland Choral Society Messiah
December 13th & 14th, 2020. Auckland Town Hall
Messiah, Soprano Soloist. Sunday 13th December, 5pm & Monday 14th December, 7:30pm, 2020. Auckland Town Hall, Auckland. https://www.aucklandchoral.com/102-messiah-13-14dec
Featuring Huw Dann, Principal Trumpet
Soprano Joanna Foote
Monday October 12th, 2020, 6:30pm, St Peter’s Church, Takapuna
Tuesday October 13th, 2020, 6:30pm, Somervell Church, Remuera
https://www.apo.co.nz/whats-on/heralding-spring/
For Baroque composers, the golden combination of trumpets and voices was special. It was for music of angels, and celebration, and shout-out-loud happiness. Bach’s effervescent cantata is at the centre of Huw Dann’s selection of some of the most brilliant gems of the repertoire.
Deutsche Oper. Death in Venice. November 22nd, 27th & December 5th, 2019. Directed by Graham Vick. Conducted by Donald Runnicles.