Director's picks for New Zealand Festival

New Zealand Festival artistic director Shelagh Magadza has a few favourites in next year's event .

Heading her list is the Pina Bausch productions of the “Rite of Spring” and “Café Müller”.

“We’ve wanted to secure these two iconic Pina Bausch dance works for the festival for decades, so we’re very pleased Tanztheater Wuppertal – Pina Bausch – dance theatre will perform them over four nights," says Ms Magadza.

"It is gratifying the festival can expand the appreciation of her work by screening some Bausch-inspired films, including the Wim Wenders’ tribute documentary “Pina”. These will be screened before the festival so audiences will be prepared for the ground breaking and inventive work.”

Ms Magadza says she is delighted to have Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for a week during the festival. “Having them take up a week-long residency in Wellington offering masterclasses for students is a great way for the festival to really reach into the youth community of Wellington.”

Another musical event she is keen to see is the baroque music group Concerto Italiano performing Monteverdi’s landmark work “Vespro della Beata Vergine” for one night only at the Michael Fowler Centre. “I think this will be a musical highlight. The group is one of Italy's finest baroque vocal ensembles and is a must see for all fine music fans.”

Ms Magadza is looking forward to seeing several of the stage works including “La Verità” with its surreal mix of dance, acrobatics, and theatre performed against a huge backdrop of a giant Salvador Dalí work. “This is a first-class, not-to-be-missed circus.”

There are several  theatrical works which Ms Magadza is drawn to including “Dead Dog in a Suitcase”. “I think that Kneehigh’s reworking of John Gay’s 18th Century musical satire, ”The Beggar”s Opera”, will appeal to opera lovers as well as those interested in experimental theatre.  Kneehigh attracted great audience interest when they performed at the festival previously with “The Wild Bride” and “Tristan & Yseult.”

She believes the “For The Birds” outdoor show will be an impressive installation, “For everyone who enjoyed “Power Plant”, the light and sound art walk at the Botanic Garden at the 2014 Festival, are bound to love this, an avian-inspired night walk brought to Otari Wilton Bush Reserve by the same artists, and others who made Power Plant possible”.

If you are travelling by Air New Zealand this week, remember Koru Lounge wi-fi provides you with FREE access to NBR ONLINE premium content.