Festival Opening Welcome
The Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival will open on Monday, October 12, with a unique community gathering and performance of Transfigured Night, directed by Salā Lemi Ponifasio.
Samoan-born Ponifasio is a visionary performing arts curator and director of global acclaim.
Based in Auckland, Ponifasio alongside MAU, a performing arts pathway and theatre company started by him, have created performances in more than 30 countries worldwide. This includes three invitations to the Venice Biennale, an unprecedented honour.
Transfigured Night, composed by Arnold SchÖnberg in 1899 is based on a poem by Richard Dehmel.