A qwerty type of opera . . .

Rehearsing the typewriter at Allen Hall last night for the new opera, River Lavelle, are (from left) composer Chris Adams and librettist Fiona Farrell, supported by Harry Love, Laurence Mossman and Helen Acheson. Photo by Craig Baxter.

A key new work will premiere in Dunedin this weekend.

Composer Chris Adams will workshop the new opera River Lavelle, which incorporates the sound of typewriters with an orchestral ensemble.

"It's based on a 1940s detective radio play, with film noir elements, when they would use ordinary objects to create the different sounds," Mr Adams said yesterday.

"The politican in the opera, 'Joe Politico', talks in meaningless jargon and I had an image of a typing sound coming out whenever he opened his mouth. His aria has two typewriters going, together with the orchestra.

"One of the typewriters is played by his secretary and the other is played at the sound desk. It's an interesting sound. You get a very structured, militaristic sound."

The 2010 and 2011 University of Otago Mozart Fellow said he had no problems sourcing the archaic equipment.

"I put out a request around the university and within three minutes I had 12 offers of typewriters. We chose the two we wanted based on the sounds that came out of them and the sound of that nice little bell you hear at the end of typing a line."

The hour-long opera also features a seven-piece orchestra, seven singers and a wind machine.

Adams has previously been commissioned and had works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, NZ Trio, Auckland Philharmonia, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Jade String Quartet and the Southern Sinfonia.

He often draws inspiration from the unconventional.

Previous pieces have been influenced by environmental issues and his frustration with politicians such as Gerry Brownlee and Rodney Hide.

The workshop performance of River Lavelle will start at 7.30pm on Saturday at Allen Hall.

nigel.benson@odt.co.nz