Opera Director Lindy Hume, AM PhD, is known internationally for her intelligent, accessible and fresh interpretations of opera. Così fan tutte will be her eighth NZ Opera production.
What drew you to opera?
When I was a teenager, I got a job with Opera Australia as an extra in Norma by Bellini, with Dame Joan Sutherland. In my first rehearsal I about two metres from Dame Joan singing Casta Diva, it was all so moving that by the end of the aria I was in tears – and hooked on opera.
Tell us about your interpretation of Cosi fan tutte?
It’s easy to be provoked by the opera’s title , but I didn’t want to dismiss it because of its misogyny, and it’s up to us to challenge that. I was interested to see what’s underneath the ‘bad’ bits, to find its beauty and truth for contemporary Kiwi audiences in New Zealand. It’s set in recognisable modern places like a cool bar and fashionable apartment, with six characters taken way beyond their comfort zones.
How do you feel it speaks to contemporary audiences?
My work is always viewed through a feminist lens. I’m interested in finding the truth of relationships and characters, and the work’s relevance today. Love, desire and infidelity are big, complex human experiences that are relatable whether the character’s wearing jeans or a petticoat and corset.
In opera, as in life, no-one’s perfect… therefore Cosi fan tutte is both a comedy, and a drama, and that’s what makes it interesting.
My work is always viewed through a feminist lens. I’m interested in finding the truth of relationships and characters, and the work’s relevance today.”
Standout moments that audiences can look forward to?
The production starts out realistic then gets pretty surreal.We create a Garden of Love that feels dream-like but in which the weird things that happen are strangely familiar. It’s very sexy.
Is it a good introduction to opera?
Yes, sure, but it is in Italian – with English surtitles – and longer than the average movie or play. So get settled, read the story in advance and go for a walk at interval because act two is where things get really interesting in opera.
Walk us through a typical rehearsal day.
I do yoga or walking early and then an hour of prep before each day’s rehearsal, so that I’m totally on top of the scene. That means revisiting the text, the character’s arcs, and the choreography. The schedule is worked out well in advance. Usually, we’ll sing through the scene first, then move to dramatizing it. I love to collaborate, so it’s always a team effort, but if I have a chorus rehearsal, efficiency and clear communication are vital because every minute is expensive. Since covid temporarily took it away, the wonder of working with this amazing music and the human voice is something I’ll never take for granted.
See NZ Opera’s new production of Così fan tutte by Mozart 31 May – 4 June at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland. There will be more shows in Wellington 14-18 June Christchurch 28 June
– 2 July. For tickets and info visit nzopera.com.
