New Zealand Opera Week returns to Whanganui in early January with a series of concerts, masterclasses and exhibitions.
The annual event sees New Zealand's emerging opera stars descend on Whanganui for professional training from the best opera tutors from New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States.
This year Opera Week will be held January 9-22.
The first public event will be held on January 11, at Heritage House, when students from the school will perform a lunch-time concert.
On January 18, Dining With Opera will be held at Element Cafe and Restaurant, the Big Orange and the Red Lion.
The Opera Week finale is Great Opera Moments, held on January 21 at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.
Sarjeant On The Quay is holding an exhibition to tie in with Opera Week. The gallery, on Taupo Quay, will be displaying four costumes from New Zealand Opera's 2016 season of the musical thriller Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
On January 21 at 11am the wardrobe supervisor from the Sweeney Todd production, Lee Williams, will hold a public discussion about the costumes with Sarjeant On The Quay assistant curator Jessica Kidd. Ms Williams will discuss the design and concept behind the costumes, their production and her role with the opera.
Sarjeant On The Quay is also holding an exhibition of four motorcycles to coincide with the Cemetery Circuit motorcycle race on Boxing Day. This exhibition runs until January 8.
+For full details of Opera Week visit www.wanganuioperaweek.co.nz.