Prince Orlofsky's Masquerade Ball

Dress in your finest black-tie and mask, and join Toi Toi Opera in the Great Hall for fun and frivolity at Prince Orlofsky’s Masquerade Ball. The music is sumptuous, the costumes are lavish, and you need to prepare yourselves – anything could happen!

This abridged version of the timeless classic 'Die Fledermaus' by Johann Strauss II is brought to you by our stunning all-local cast and creative team, and it promises to be an evening that you will never forget.

Sumptuous offerings will be available to purchase on the night at the onsite bar. After all, Prince Orlofsky is known for his incredible hospitality - and especially his champagne!

Company Profile
Hailed by The Press as 'A company to watch', Ōtautahi's own Toi Toi Opera is fast establishing a reputation as Aotearoa's most exciting and innovative pint-sized opera company. Dedicated to presenting staged opera, Toi Toi Opera was founded in 2019 to celebrate and grow the talent of Waitaha Canterbury's local opera singers, musicians, and associated creative and technical teams, and to make opera more accessible to the community.

Directed by Sara Brodie, their inaugural season 'Suor Angelica & Elegies' premiered at the newly-restored Great Hall of The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, in February 2021, to great audience and critical acclaim. Featuring Puccini’s exquisite one act opera ‘Suor Angelica’, complemented by ‘Elegies’ a selection of staged scenes of the music of Britten, Butterworth and Vaughan Williams, the production was lauded as 'ingenious' and 'truly spectacular' (The Press), 'innovative, thought-provoking, and imaginative' (Theatreview), and 'an auspicious debut season' (NZ Opera News).

This was followed in August 2022 by ‘A Barber & Bernstein Double Bill’, a spellbinding new production featuring Bernstein’s ‘Trouble in Tahiti’, and two works of Samuel Barber ‘A Hand of Bridge’ and ‘Knoxville: Summer of 1915’. Directed by Matthew Kereama and starring some of Aotearoa's finest young operatic talent, it was labelled 'innovative, imaginative and adventurous' (The Press), 'ingenious' and 'compelling' (Theatreview).

Having gone on to delight the crowds at the inaugural Off Centre festival in March 2023, with an immersive journey through some of opera's best-known and best-loved highlights - complete with Viking helmets and breast plates, Toi Toi Opera is thrilled to be returning for this year's festival.

Off Centre
This event is part of Off Centre, an arts festival that shows off the best of Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre – eclectic, exuberant, accessible. With around 40 events, the place will be filled with music, comedy, theatre, and vibrant entertainment. One day, two nights, it's all happening on the 8-9 March 2024. Full details at www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/off-centre/