Story: Opera and musical theatre

Opera Technique was established in 1954 by members of the Old Students' Choir of Wellington Technical College, and became a training ground for many local singers, dancers, costume designers and stage production people. For its 40th anniversary, not long before it went into recess, it commissioned composer and conductor Michael Vinten to write The golden salamander. The opera tells of the love of a poor student, Anselmus, for Serpentina, daughter of the Royal Librarian. The Librarian is in fact the Golden Salamander, and he can only return to the Mystic Garden if his daughter wins the undying devotion of a young man. After many trials, the love of Anselmus for Serpentina triumphs, and the Mystic Garden is restored.