Opera

I believe opera is the most sublime and complete of the performing arts. I have had the privilege to direct works from the classical canon, and unique original works that tell stories from Aotearoa.

Full Opera Biography link here.

Dido and Aneas

2023 University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music.
Composer Henry Purcell
Director & Design John G Davies
Musical director Francis Cowan
Hamilton 22,23,24 September

Opera in the Cathedral

2023 Holy Trinity Cathedral
Recital TANZOS Singers. Selected aria.
Director John G Davies
Pianist Terence Dennis
August 18 2023

Gianni Schicchi

2022 University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music.
Composer Giacomo Puccini
Libretto Giovacchino Forzano
Director John G Davies
Conductor Euan Safey
Hamilton 29 September-1st October

Ihitai A’vei’a Star Navigator.

Ihitai A’vei’a Star Navigator.

Composer Tim Finn
Libretto Tim Finn, Celestine Hitiura Vaite
Director John Davies
Conductor Uwe Grodd
Auckland March 19 2021 & 9-11 December 2022
https://nzopera.com/what-people-say-ihitai-aveia-star-navigator/

Ihitai A’vei’a Star Navigator is a series of songs sung by James Cook, the great English navigator and map maker of the Pacific, and Tupaia, the Tahitian who joined the voyage on Cooks Endeavour in 1769. Read more …..

D’ua (Prayer) For Broken Shelter

Du’a (Prayer) For Broken Shelter.

Composer Michael Williams.
Libretto Tracey Slaughter and Nida Fiazi. Director John Davies.
Conductor Peter Scholes

In 2018 Michael Williams and his family volunteered with the Hamilton Red Cross to assist in a refugee re-settlement programme. They attended six weeks of workshops to prepare for the arrival of the family they were to support as they settled into a new home in Hamilton. Read more ….

The Juniper Passion

In March of 2007 my colleague Michael Williams approached me asking would I write a libretto for him to compose to. I allowed this challenge to germinate and then three weeks later during the time of the annual ANZAC Commemorations a powerful evocation came to mind. Read more ….

Video below is a short video outlining the inspiration for the creation of The Juniper Passion.

Review: Our premier was reviewed by Maria Lanciotti. Link is a translation from the Italian. Go to Review: The Juniper Passion.

I also wrote a poetic account of our tour. Go to We Played Rome.

The Māori Bacchae

In November 2019 I co-directed a sold-out season of Te Pakkhai, a rendition of Euripides The Bacche in Māori and English, set in a pre-European Māori world, 35% of the text was delivered in te reo Māori. (Translation by Dr Charles Ahukaramu Royal) This was not complete opera but with extended sequences of waiata (song) and haka (rhythmical chant/dance) the style was moving close to opera. Read more …

3 Franks

While teaching in the Theatre Studies Department at the University of Waikato, I directed four of David Griffiths original opera. These were, The Woman from Moab, The White Lady, The Secret Suffragette and 3 Franks which were adaptations of three Frank Sargeson short stories.

Read 3 Franks review here.

Directors programme note - 3 Franks. Read here ….

The White Lady

At the conclusion of the 2005 season of 3 Franks, David Griffiths and I spoke about ‘next years opera’ and what it could be. The idea of it being set in a fast food establishment was quickly accepted, and then our attention turned to what it should be about. We determined it should concern a person who finds themselves in a moral dilemma. Read more …

Opera Biography