Emerging young New Zealand talent will perform at Queenstown’s 2025 Twilight Opera in the Garden in February celebrating the event’s fifth anniversary.

The opera on February 9 is organised by the Arrowtown Creative Arts Society (ACAS) at Springpointer Garden in Lower Shotover in collaboration for the first time with the Turn Up the Music Trust.

ACAS chairman Paul Rea says it has gained a high profile since the inaugural event.

“It is a milestone for us to be staging our fifth twilight garden opera and we are indebted to Sharon and Grant Stalker for making their property, in its idyllic alpine setting, available again. We are also incredibly appreciative of the ongoing sponsorship and support from Hamish Walker of Walker & Co. Realty.”

“People can arrive  around 4.00pm and settle in and relax and enjoy a drink and food ready for a 5.00pm start. Parking is accessible on the site and there is lots of space. Last year around 400 people, both local residents along with many visitors from out of town attended and we have plenty of room to expand further.”

ACAS co-produces the event with the Auckland Opera Studio who handpick the young singers and provide a programme mixing classic opera with “big voice” popular.

Studio co-founder Stephen Fitzgerald says the Queenstown opera is an opportunity for the up and coming performers to go on stage and help advance their career.

“Queenstown gets the particular excitement of witnessing new stars on the verge of something bigger. And the singers love being chosen for it. The atmosphere relaxes them and suddenly they find an extra level in themselves and their voices.”

Performers for the 2025 opera are Katherine Winitana, Sarah Mileham, Emmanual Fonoti Fuimaono, Alfred Fonoti Fuimaono, Joel Amosa and Ridge Ponini.

Profits from the opera will be donated to the Turn Up the Music Trust.

“This organisation is also involved in helping young musical talent and its work in the community is well recognised,” says Paul. “ACAS is excited to be collaborating with them and we are exploring other ways we can work together including assisting with individual students’ musical tuition fees.”