Mika and the APO - Pō A Tribal Pop Opera

The Pasifika Festival presents Pō | Beautiful Darkness, Friday 12 March at the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge.

Pō is also the opening event for Auckland’s brand new Aroha Festival, which runs from 12-20 March, 2010.

After a stepping back from the spotlight for almost a decade, multi-talented Māori entertainer, Mika is making a one-night only return to the stage in his spectacular new Tribal Pop Opera – Pō | Beautiful Darkness.

Mika calls together the fiery cultures of the Pacific Rim to create a powerful, large scale performance showcasing the raw beauty of native song and dance, combined with the rich musicianship of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra under conductor Hamish McKeich.

Mika delivers ringing anthems and bittersweet lullabies, alongside a cast of local and international dancers and musicians, to create a living, breathing, contemporary house of ancestors remembered – and imagined.

“Pō is the discovery of the darkness inside,” says Mika. “A darkness that is beautiful and can live on eternally.”

This musical dreamscape will sweep the audience out of their seats on a journey of cultural discovery and fusion – from flying crescendos high above the stage to the deep rumbles that drive great haka.

Acclaimed composer Gareth Farr has collaborated with Mika on an entirely original score for Pō. The Tribal Pop Opera is brought to the stage through the direction of Mark James Hamilton, with additional musical direction from Penny Dodd.

Internationally acclaimed and outrageously exotic Japanese dancer Shakti, and classically trained Indonesian dancer Alfira, will perform below soaring aerial artist Shayne Comino, and alongside a cast of New Zealand contemporary and traditional Māori dancers from Mika Haka Youth.

Pō | Beautiful Darkness is a 100% New Zealand Māori production with a uniquely exotic international appeal – a breathtakingly beautiful exploration of sound and vision that was made to excite and inspire.

Event listed by ArohaFestival

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