NZ Opera's had a 'mare of a year. Covid 19 of course disrupted the planned productions. There were high-profile departures from its board, not to mention social media scorn poured on a planned opera about the unruly British travellers who came to Aotearoa and hit the headlines for their behaviour. But the company's General Director, Thomas de Mallet Burgess, is not letting any of this deter him from announcing an ambitious programme for 2022. He talks to Lynn Freeman about some highlights. These include two new operas telling New Zealand stories- and yes that includes the one about the tourists - a Verdi favourite, the restaging of Tim Finn's first opera, as well as some outdoor music concerts and a recital tour that will head around the country.