Category: OPERA

Opera Australia doing Cinderella this summer

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Posted: 16/07/2024

Opera Australia, in partnership with Sydney Festival, is putting on Laurent Pelly’s mesmerising opera rendition of Massenet’s Cinderella (Cendrillon), set to enchant spectators on New Year’s Eve at the iconic Sydney Opera House, a standout event in the Company’s forthcoming 2025 summer season. This enchanting and widely acclaimed adaptation of the beloved fairy tale, Cinderella, will unveil its magic in Australia following triumphant runs at The Metropolitan Opera of New York and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. A momentous occasion for OA, as this marks the debut of this opera within its repertoire, with the esteemed Artistic Director Jo Davies kicking off her inaugural summer season with the spellbinding Cinderella, featuring a stellar trio of Australia’s finest vocal talents. Leading the cast is Emily Edmonds, making her mark after her time with the Jette Parker Young Artists Program at the Royal Opera House, portraying the enchanting Cinderella. Margaret Plummer, returning from Vienna, steps into the role of Prince Charming, while the acclaimed Australian soprano, Emma Matthews, graces the stage as the Fairy Godmother. Reflecting on the exceptional casting choices, Ms. Davies expressed her delight, stating, “I’m truly thrilled to have secured such immensely talented Australian singers to headline this magnificent production for its premiere in Australia in 2025. Bringing Margaret back to Australia and reuniting with Emily and Emma at OA is a casting coup for me, and I eagerly anticipate the commencement of rehearsals later this year. This promises to be a delightful spectacle for all audiences and a standout feature of my… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, OPERA

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Why see Tosca this summer at the Royal Opera House London

Tosca Royal Opera House

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Posted: 14/07/2024

With a rich history dating back to 1732, this iconic institution has flourished as a premier venue for opera and ballet. The Royal Opera House serves as the home for both The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, with its grand auditorium renowned for its superb acoustics and opulent architecture.

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LONDON, OPERA

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Opera Australia bring ‘Breaking the waves’ to Melbourne

Opera Australia Breaking the waves

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Posted: 04/07/2024

For the first time in Melbourne, Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s “Breaking the Waves” will startle audiences, as it has across the world, including acclaimed seasons at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Edinburgh Festival, and Adelaide Festival. Opera Australia will present a Melbourne exclusive, one-night-only semi-staged performance of this contemporary opera on 26 July at Hamer Hall, helmed by Melbourne Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks and conducted by the award-winning Jessica Cottis. This will be Sarks’ first foray into opera, which she says offers an exciting opportunity to expand her creative output in a new direction. “Opera is an entirely different type of theatre; the sheer drama of the music adds a greater depth and dimension to the storytelling and allows us immediate access to the inner life of these characters. I am looking forward to working with some of Australia’s finest singers and musicians to bring this story to life. Breaking the Waves brings together some brilliant female creatives. Composer Missy Mazzoli, conductor Jessica Cottis, and designer Marg Horwell are world leaders in their fields, and it is so special to collaborate with them on this project,” said Ms. Sarks. Dubbed by Time Out as “Brooklyn’s post-millennial Mozart,” Mazzoli is one of the most exciting composers working anywhere in the world, and her adaptation of von Trier’s film has been acclaimed as one of the 21st century’s best operas. Opera Australia filled Hamer Hall last year with its critically successful “Satyagraha,” and “Breaking the Waves” presents the perfect opportunity for a musically adventurous… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, OPERA

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A rare Puccini opera production of Il Trittico in Sydney

Puccini il Trittico

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Posted: 30/06/2024

Opera Australia is poised to make operatic history next month with the world premiere of a groundbreaking new production of Puccini’s renowned but seldom performed trilogy, Il Trittico. This remarkable staging, commissioned by OA’s Artistic Director Jo Davies, will feature three of Australia’s most promising young directors – Constantine Costi, Imara Savage, and Shaun Rennie – each bringing their unique vision to one of the operas in the triptych. Il Trittico, a powerful collection of one-act verismo operas, offers a diverse experience that ranges from heart-wrenching tragedy to uproarious comedy, all within a single evening. This event marks the first occasion globally where a main stage production of Il Trittico is crafted by three individual directors, underlining the inventive spirit of this production. “We are incredibly excited to have these three extraordinary Australian directors animating Puccini’s magnum opus,” said Ms Davies. “This production tackles significant themes with resonant contemporary relevance, from the deep sorrow of losing a loved one to the intricacies of familial and financial entanglements. The genius of Puccini’s storytelling remains as poignant today as it was a century ago, reflecting our enduring human experiences and inspiring audiences to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and hope.” Constantine Costi will helm Il tabarro, a tale of tense love set on a gritty barge, brought to life by Australian baritone Simon Meadows, soprano Olivia Cranwell, and tenor Viktor Antipenko in his Australian debut. Imara Savage directs the melancholic Suor Angelica, featuring soprano Lauren Fagan as the grieving nun in a convent garden, with OA chorister… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, OPERA, SYDNEY

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Hamlet coming to the Sydney Opera House

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Updated: 29/06/2024

One of the most successful operas ever composed by an Australian, Brett Dean’s internationally acclaimed Hamlet will finally make its long-awaited Sydney Opera House debut with Opera Australia next month. Directed by Australian theatre royalty, Neil Armfield and based on Shakespeare’s infamous play, Hamlet premiered in 2017 at the Glyndebourne Festival UK and has since been staged at the Adelaide Festival, New York’s Metropolitan Opera, and most recently at the Munich Opera Festival. With Dean’s evocative music and thrilling libretto by Canadian Matthew Jocelyn offering audiences additional insights into the inner world of thought and emotion of the crazed son trying to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet is an invigoratingly modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s revenge thriller. Armfield has created a “viscerally physical” (Sydney Morning Herald) production, collaborating with Australian designers Ralph Myers and Alice Babidge to produce a slick royal court with darkness at its heart. Contemporary opera specialist, Anglo-German conductor Tim Anderson will make his Australian debut to guide the Opera Australia Orchestra through Dean’s immensely complex and astoundingly raw, visceral score comprising electronic music and cinema-like surround sound effects. Known as the ‘tortured tenor’ due to his extraordinary performances, British tenor Allan Clayton will reprise the demanding title role opposite homegrown soprano Lorina Gore, singing her spellbinding Helpmann-winning performance as Ophelia, and tour-de-force American baritone Rod Gilfry as Claudius. Australian mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby makes a welcome return to Opera Australia to make her role debut as Gertrude alongside an outstanding local cast and the Opera Australia Chorus, while Scottish accordionist James Crabb will… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, OPERA, SYDNEY

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Opera Australia presents a thrilling tribute to Puccini’s legacy

Puccini Tosca Opera Australia

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Updated: 08/06/2024

Embark on a musical odyssey as Opera Australia honours the 100th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini’s legacy with a spectacular production of Tosca at the iconic Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. From the 25th of June to the 16th of August 2024, immerse yourself in the timeless allure of this Italian masterpiece reimagined for modern audiences. Prepare to be captivated by the enthralling tale of Tosca, a riveting opera that weaves a tapestry of love, passion, jealousy, and betrayal over a heart-pounding 24-hour timeline. Directed by the acclaimed Edward Dick, this five-star production promises an electrifying experience, blending classical elegance with contemporary flair to create a visual and auditory feast for the senses. Step into a world where Renaissance grandeur meets avant-garde sophistication, as set designer Tom Scutt transforms the stage into a mesmerising spectacle beneath a suspended gilded dome adorned with a stunning Renaissance fresco. The performers, dressed in glamorous modern attire by BAFTA-winning costume designer Fotini Dimou, are illuminated by Lee Curran’s stadium-style lighting, creating a mesmerising visual symphony. The talented cast includes the Northern Irish soprano Giselle Allen making her OA debut in the titular role, alongside the brilliant Karah Son, captivating audiences with her rendition of Tosca’s iconic aria ‘Vissi d’arte’. Korean tenor Young Woo Kim and Armenian dramatic baritone Gevorg Hakobyan bring the characters of Cavaradossi and Scarpia to life, with award-winning local baritone Warwick Fyfe adding his exceptional talent to the mix. Guiding the orchestra with finesse and passion, acclaimed maestro Johannes Fritzsch and OA’s Head of Music Tahu… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, OPERA, SYDNEY

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Opera Australia doing 500 tickets for $35

Opera Australia stage

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Posted: 10/05/2024

Opera Australia is rolling out the red carpet for younger audiences with its innovative Opera for Under 35s program! A fresh initiative that aims to breathe new life into the traditional art form of opera. In a bold move to attract a younger demographic, OA is offering an enticing deal of 500 tickets priced at just $35 each. This special offer marks the launch of a program dedicated to making opera more accessible and appealing to the under-35 crowd, starting with the Australian premiere of Edward Dick’s acclaimed production of Tosca. Scheduled to mesmerise audiences firstly in Melbourne at the Margaret Court Arena on May 24, followed by a season at the iconic Sydney Opera House starting June 25, Tosca is set to be a landmark event. This initiative is not merely about offering discounted tickets; it’s a comprehensive program designed to cultivate a deeper appreciation for opera among young Australians. Registrants of the program can look forward to a 15% discount on tickets to most OA performances year-round, alongside exclusive further discounts for select shows, with some tickets available at the low price of $35. Additionally, members will receive invitations to special behind-the-scenes events including meet-and-greets with artists, all at no additional cost. Jo Davies, OA’s new Artistic Director, expresses her excitement about the program, highlighting it as a strategic move to lower financial barriers and make opera accessible to all, especially during tough economic times. This approach not only preserves but also propels the art form forward by ensuring it remains relevant and… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, MUSIC, OPERA, SYDNEY

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Dutch piano virtuoso returns to the Sydney Opera House

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Posted: 30/04/2024

Mark your calendars and prepare to be enveloped in the soul-stirring sounds of Joep Beving, as the maestro makes his grand return to the Opera House this July. After mesmerising audiences in previous years, Beving is back with a bang, ready to unveil the mystical realms of Hermetism across two spellbinding shows on Monday, 22 July 2024. Each performance promises an experience akin to a spiritual odyssey, underscored by Beving’s deeply introspective, neoclassical sound that has captivated millions globally. This year, the enigmatic Dutch pianist is set to elevate his musical narrations to unprecedented heights, blending his artistry with an awe-inspiring audio-visual spectacle developed alongside the innovative minds of Boris Acket, Merijn Versnel, and Roxanne Percobic. Hermetism, drawing inspiration from Beving’s 2022 album, invites you on an enchanted voyage exploring the essence of spirituality, the elusive nature of time, and the depths of the inner self. This isn’t just a concert; it’s an invitation to transcend the ordinary, led by a masterful storyteller who’s rediscovered his love for the piano and transformed it into a source of universal connection and wonder. Joep Beving’s remarkable journey from personal loss to streaming stardom is a testament to the power of music to heal, unite, and inspire. With over 200 million streams on Spotify and a place among the giants of post-classical composition, Beving’s return to the Opera House isn’t just an event; it’s a pivotal moment in the world of contemporary music. As Ben Marshall, Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, aptly puts it, “Joep describes… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, OPERA, SYDNEY

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