Celebrating the opening of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui

There are some moments that feel bigger than a single performance. Some that carry the weight of place, people, and possibility. Being part of the reopening of Wellington’s central library, Te Matapihi, was absolutely one of them.

For Orpheus Choir Wellington, this was the opening of our 2026 season, and a chance to help bring a much-loved civic space back to life through music.

At the heart of the celebration was the world premiere of Te Matapi’i, a new work by Wellington composer Briar Prastiti. We had the privilege of working with Briar during the composition process, a collaboration that allowed the music to be shaped not just on the page, but in the room, with voices, acoustics, and imagination all in dialogue.

The performance itself was unlike anything we’ve done before. Singers from multiple choirs were placed throughout the building, creating a fully immersive, spatial experience. Voices moved through the architecture, interwoven with taonga pūoro performed by Alistair Fraser and layered with an electronic soundscape. It was a work that could only exist in this place, at this moment.

Behind the scenes, this project had been quietly unfolding for months. Rehearsals began in late 2025 including (safely managed) sessions inside the building while it was still under construction. At one point, our Music Director Brent Stewart conducted with a wheelie bin as a music stand. Resourceful, as always!

This event held special meaning within our own whānau for several reasons. Our Assistant Conductor, Stephen Clothier, is also the Children’s and Youth Services Coordinator at Wellington City Libraries, making this collaboration feel deeply personal as well as artistic. Other Orpheus members are connected to libraries and adjacent activities.

We’re incredibly grateful to Wellington City Council, Kirsten Mason and her team, and all those who brought together the many moving parts of this ambitious opening. As part of the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, it was a celebration not just of a building, but of knowledge, creativity, and community.

And now, thanks to RNZ Concert and SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, the recording of Te Matapi’i is available to experience.

We’re proud as punch to have been part of it — and even prouder to share it with you. Listen, and enjoy, by clicking this link.