Hawai’i Opera Theatre takes Mozart’s Bastien & Bastienne to brave new heights with island-inspired digital production

For Immediate Release 

HAWAIʻI OPERA THEATRE TAKES MOZART’S BASTIEN & BASTIENNE TO BRAVE NEW HEIGHTS WITH ISLAND-INSPIRED DIGITAL PRODUCTION 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 (Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) – Hawai‘i Opera Theatre is excited to announce the upcoming production of Mozart’s Bastien & Bastienne, a one-act comic opera that has captivated audiences for generations. In true creative fashion, HOT has taken this production in an inspiring new digital direction that sees HOT’s General Director, Andrew Morgan, making his directorial debut with the theatre. Mr. Morgan, who is known for directing Mozart, has directed over 20 productions, most recently at Pocket Opera and Livermore Valley Opera in the San Francisco Bay Area. The production stars HOT Resident Artist Tenor Taka Komagata (Bastien) and local favorite Martina Bingham (Bastienne) along with Jamie Offenbach as Colas, the village soothsayer. Morgan also introduced a narrator, Sam the Sheepdog, to the production, a hand-puppet voiced by Brother Gary Morris, retired Associate Professor of  Performing Arts at Chaminade University. Audiences can pre-order the production now and begin streaming the comedy online at HOT Digital on February 12. 

First written in 1768 by Mozart when he was only 12 years old, Bastien & Bastienne tells the story of a spat between two young lovers, guided back to each other with the help of Colas, a magical character of comically dubious talents. Over the years, countless productions of this timeless opera have entertained audiences around the world, but there has never been anything quite like what’s been crafted for HOT Digital. 

“We’ve developed a production that has a real indie feel to it and we’ve relied locally on the depth of talent in the islands to create something that we think our audience will really enjoy,” says HOT General Director Andrew Morgan. “It’s funny, quick, and witty. It also releases just before Valentine’s Day, which makes for a perfect date-night.”

To remain nimble in the age of COVID, HOT has tapped into their inner well of creativity to craft something truly unique with their digital production of Bastien & Bastienne. By incorporating a sense of place that we might all recognize (the story unfolds amid the rolling ranch lands of the Big Island, with images courtesy of Kahua Ranch in Kamuela) this production feels both unique and relevant to opera aficionados and first-time opera goers alike. HOT’s pivot to a digital experience with the HOT Digital site and mobile apps for Apple and Android devices is akin to witnessing new art emerge in real time. Viewers can see first-hand how technology, the pandemic, and creativity have all come together to yield something new and decidedly fun.  

According to Morgan, transitioning from a mainstage production into a digital medium, all the while ensuring that the crew take all the necessary precautions against COVID, didn’t come without its fair share of obstacles. “We had to approach this production from an entirely different vantage point,” he says. “We had to look at this through a new lens, ensuring that we’re cognizant of all the elements that have to happen to allow this story to shine in a digital world, not on the mainstage. There were hurdles, sure, but that’s also what I love about this project; we’ve had to all work together to make this happen. Opera has to evolve and serve the times. Yes, we love to do large-scale productions, and look forward to doing them again in the future, but this new medium really does allow us to build something special and exciting.” 

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Visit HOT Digital at www.HOTDigital.VHX.TV 

Download the Free HOT Digital App 

Download HOT Digital’s free app today and watch on the go or cast to your television from your Apple or Android mobile devices. To view on your TV, you must have a casting device (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire, Roku, etc.) or Smart TV. 

Apple App: http://apple.co/3cabX2R 

Android App: http://bit.ly/2NAPOk5 

Download images HERE (credit Hawaii Opera Theatre)

ABOUT HAWAIʻI OPERA THEATRE 

Opera has been part of island culture for more than a century. Its history in Hawaiʻi, which dates back to the 1850s, includes stories of Queen Emma singing in the chorus of Verdi’s Il Trovatore while her husband, King Kamehameha IV served as the stage manager! Today, Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre is known for its vibrant and creative productions and award-winning education programs. 

Since 1961, Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT), founded as a division of the Honolulu Symphony Society and incorporated in 1980, has served to enhance the quality of life in Hawaiʻi by presenting opera performances and education programs of the highest standards. With its upcoming commemoration of 60 years as the only professional opera company in Hawaiʻi, HOT is one of the largest performing arts organizations in the state with performances and education presentations on all of the major islands. In May, 2019, General Director Andrew Morgan became the company’s fifth executive leader, bringing over 25 years of experience as a non-profit leader, singer and stage director. 

HOT’s year-round educational programs serve as both catalyst and active participant in the artistic education of Hawaiʻi’s youth, serving over 20,000 students, parents and teachers each year. Opera for Everyone provides access to a dress rehearsal for each of HOT’s mainstage productions for a large and enthusiastic audience of students. Opera Express takes opera into elementary and middle schools with special tours to all Neighbor Islands of an engaging and age-appropriate production. HOT’s Opera Residency program brings our education and production staff members into an elementary school to work with students and teachers to compose an opera production centered on curriculum components.  Adult education offerings include Opera Highlights, a non-credit course at the University of Hawaii; Opera Previews, a lecture and Q&A with artists at the Honolulu Museum of Art; pre-performance Lanai Lectures on the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall lanai; and other presentations at venues throughout the state. For the 2020-2021 Season, the company has adapted all of its artistic and education programs for online distribution through HOT Digital. 

For media questions and comments, please contact: 

Jason Walter / Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre / j_walter@hawaiiopera.org / 808.596.7372 ext. 211