pepeha
WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE, AND WHERE WE BELONG
A multimedia vocal recital by Rachelle Pike in association with City Lyric Opera.
December 12, 2024
Brooklyn Art Haus | 24 Marcy Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211
7:30 PM
Pepeha is a way that Māori people from Aotearoa /aʊˌteɪəˈrəʊə/, New Zealand introduce themselves. It tells people who you are by sharing your connections with the people and places that are important to you. It is also a tradition that pakeha /ˈpäkəˌ(h)ä/, non-Māori New Zealanders, are encouraged to participate in. Someones pepeha identifies their mountain, their river, where they are from, their family and who they are.
This performance will follow the singer’s journey discovering their pepeha as they connect with their cultural heritage, will teach new audiences about Māori culture and Aotearoa New Zealand, and encourage them to think about their own heritage and cultural identity through their own pepeha. It is also an exploration of the parallel between this cultural practice and a performer’s artistry.
Through the work of New Zealand composers, a variety of classical works, traditional kapa haka /ˈkɑːpə ˈhɑːkə/ (Māori performing arts) and visual projection, the program will illustrate the singer’s pepeha - their mountain, their river, their home, their family and ultimately them.
Kiwi mezzo-soprano Rachelle Pike, originally from Christchurch, NZ, is acclaimed for her “fearless and formidable presence”. With a “pulsing and opulent mezzo” and a chest voice of "weapons grade," she has graced opera and concert stages worldwide, from New York to New Zealand. Based in Brooklyn, she divides her time between the US and her antipodean home. Pike debuted at Carnegie Hall in the lead role of Riyoichi Saito's Dojoji and at Lincoln Center with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New York in La Traviata. Notable performances include The Medium with City Lyric Opera, Flora in La Traviata with NZ Opera and New Jersey Festival Opera, and roles with Virginia Opera and Opera Santa Barbara. She's showcased her talent in various productions, covering a range of works from Carmen to Peter Grimes. In concert, Pike has collaborated with esteemed ensembles like the Chautauqua Symphony, New Jersey Festival Opera, and orchestras in Auckland Philharmonic and Christchurch Symphony. www.rachellepike.com