Opus Orchestra: Te Miha

Kotahi Te Wairua with Opus Orchestra and Te Mauri Kapa Haka. Be immersed in the most exciting musical experience of the year!

“Kotahi te kohao o te ngira, e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero.”

“There is but one eye of the needle, through which white, black and red cotton are threaded.”

Join us, as we weave together the tradition of chamber orchestra, the thrill of kapa haka and the charm of ancient story telling in Te Miha, an exciting new work commissioned by Orchestras Central, with music written by New Zealand composer and conductor Stephen Small.

This musical experience will merge the sound of cultures colliding in striking harmony. Stage one retells the creation story of Papatuanuku and Ranginui by sewing Opus orchestra with the voices of Kotahi te Wairua. Stage two plaits the final thread of Te Mauri Kapa Haka into the tapestry, combining all three sounds for a euphonious and unique performance of the Latin Mass in Te Reo Māori – known as Te Miha as commissioned by the Pope.

Kotahi Te Wairua – comprises songwriters Gail Tipene, Sharon Emirali, Anthony Grey and Stephen Small, whose recently released album retells the myth of Ranginui and Papatuanuku and the emergence of the Gods of the natural Maori world.

Proudly supported by Creative NZ.

The tradition of the chamber orchestra, the excitement of kapa haka and the evocative voices of Kotahi Te Wairua come together for the very first time. This performance will be like nothing you’ve encountered before – be prepared to be captivated!

The first part of the concert features Opus and the beautiful voices of Kotahi Te Wairua telling the myth of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, and the second is an explosion of sight and sound as Kotahi Te Wairua and the Orchestra and joined by Rikihana Kingi and Te Mauri Kapa Haka (Rotorua) to perform the Latin Mass incorporating the Te Reo Maori translation known as Te Miha (as commissioned by the Pope) and the ancient Latin text.