Category: ARTS & CULTURE

Superstars in Sydney for Opera Australia’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’

Marriage of Figaro Sydney Opera

It was in 2019 when Melbourne-born superstar soprano Stacey Alleaume took to the stage in Opera Australia’s The Marriage of Figaro as Susanna alongside Paolo Bordogna, tenor. It’s now in 2022 that the illustrious Australian opera company is bringing back the legendary tale – with Stacey in the role she performed all-too-well – that brought us its renowned overture from 27 January to 18 February 2022 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. With three vocal talents that comprise some of the world’s finest singers, the production this summer won’t be one to miss. A regular on the stage of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala and opera houses around Europe, impressive Italian baritone Mario Cassi will debut as the Count, a role he has perfected in Liege and Dresden. Stellar Russian soprano Ekaterina Morozova will debut as the Countess, a role she performed at the Bolshoi in late 2021, and rising star Venetian bass-baritone Tommaso Barea debuts, as Figaro himself, opposite celebrated Australian soprano Stacey Alleaume as clever servant Susanna. Based on a play that was initially banned for its anti-aristocratic undertones, this sharp cat-and-mouse comedy that heroes the underclass will delight and entertain audiences as it has done since its 1786 debut in Vienna. The Marriage of Figaro is a lovable tale that has brought us such recognisable tunes as the one above and the beautiful, floaty Sull’Aria, sung by two characters Countess Almaviva who dictates to Susanna (Stacey Alleaume) the invitation to a tryst addressed to the countess’ husband in a plot to expose his… Read More

Edinburgh: celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at Holyroodhouse

Holyroodhouse exhibition

In Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, a major exhibition showcasing some of the finest paintings in the Royal Collection will be staged at The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse. Queen Elizabeth has reigned for 70 years and amongst the massive celebrations planned for Her Majesty, this exhibition will put on a show befitting royalty. Displaying more than 30 spectacular works by artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Claude, Artemisia Gentileschi and Van Dyck, it’s an exhibition that’s worth the journey if you’re coming from afar. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to view these world-renowned paintings afresh in a modern gallery setting, away from the historic interior of the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, where they can usually be seen as part of the annual Summer Opening of the State Rooms. Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace is at The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 25 March – 25 September 2022. For more information and to book tickets, head to the Royal Collection Trust’s website

Jonas Kaufmann one if the world’s best tenors does Lohengrin at Melbourne Arts Centre

Jonas Kaufmann

When Jonas Kaufmann was last in Australia, he toured Parsifal in 2017 and Andrea Chenier in 2019 with Opera Australia. He left audiences’ mouths agape and sent them off with the tale in their hearts and now, he’s back to give audiences a glimpse into the world of Wagner’s Lohengrin, in a partnership between Opera Australia and Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. Rarely performing outside Europe these days, this is the first time the German tenor will perform in a fully staged opera anywhere in the entire South East Asia region, let alone Australia. It‘s a tremendous thrill that one of the greatest tenors alive is coming to Melbourne to perform in his first opera in Australia, and singing, arguably, one of his finest roles. He will be joined by a cast of powerhouse singers: Emily Magee, Elena Gabouri, Marco Vratogna, Daniel Sumegi and Warwick Fyfe. Opera Australia’s Head of Music Tahu Mathesonwill conduct Wagner’s romantic opera, featuring a huge chorus. Needless to say, it’s a performance not to be missed. Get tickets and find out more information at the Opera Australia website.

Sydney Opera: this January Turandot returns to Joan Sutherland

Yonghoon Lee Calaf Turnadot Opera 1

The last time Turandot was such a spectacle, it was the title performance of Handa’s Opera on Sydney Harbour and made for a light, sound and experiential spectacular that had to be experienced. Fast forward to 2022 and it’s taking over the Joan Sutherland Theatre in the Sydney Opera House, offering audiences members the moment, again, to hold their breath as Yonghoon Lee – an OA favourite – hits that famous Vincero note (I will will) at the end of Nessun Dorma (No one will sleep). It’s an especially exciting way to kick of the new year of music after almost two years of music deprivation around the world thanks to the pandemic. We’re aching for the angelic voices of Yonghoon Lee (Calaf), Karah Son and Mariana Hong (Liu) and a spread of other renowned Opera Australia talent. Not to mention, as OA Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini is pleased to announce that rising star Australian sopranoAnna-Louise Cole will share the title role. “Anna-Louise has been a member of our Young ArtistProgram and is ready to tackle these big roles. It is really exciting that she will make her role debutas Turandot so audiences in Sydney can hear what her voice can really do. What’s Turandot about? A fantasy opera of poetry and myth, Turandot transports audiences to an exotic world where fearand love go hand in hand. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats as suitors answer riddles atthe risk of death in an attempt to win the hand of the ice princess… Read More

The best of Australian opera in Melbourne and Sydney in 2022

The Bohemians welcome Mimi in La Boheme

It’s been SO long since we’ve been inside the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House or the Melbourne Arts Centre to see our favourite operas by one of the world’s leading production companies, Opera Australia – let alone anything else – that this news is big. In case you can’t make the opera festivities in the middle of Sydney Harbour for New Years this year, then worry not, the official launch of the 2022 opera season by Opera Australia has launched and it’s incredible. Here’s what to expect from Australia’s own opera company powerhouse, Opera Australia. Opera in Melbourne 2022 Local Melburnian and superstar soprano Stacey Alleaume will make her in-theatre debut as Violetta in Elijah Moshinsky’s celebrated production of La Traviata, a highlight of the Company’s 2022 Melbourne season. And if that’s not exciting enough, the Australian premiere of Olivier Py’s production of Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin there’ll also be a one-night only concert by arguably the greatest bass alive today, Ferruccio Furlanetto, along with a highly anticipated blockbuster musical. Our favourite Diego Torre will join the line-up, too! Here are just two stand out events for Autumn 2022 in Melbourne to look forward to. For more, head to the Opera Australia website. VERDI: La Traviata | Conductor Renato Palumbo | Director Elijah MoshinskyFollowing her success at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, shining star soprano Stacey Alleaume will make her in-theatre role debut as Violetta. Renato Palumbo makes a welcome return to Australia to conduct Ho-Yoon Chung as Alfredo, José Carbó as Giorgio… Read More

Opera Australia is hosting a New Years Opera Gala on Cockatoo Island

Opera Australia New Years Eve 1

Can’t believe we’re here again, already in 2021, but we are and now is the time to plan what you’re doing for New Years Eve 2021. Naturally, if you’re in Sydney, you’ll be by the harbour, watching the epic fireworks every year, so why not do it in operatic style? Opera Australia has added another outdoor spectacular to its program, recently announcing the inaugural New Year’s Eve Opera Gala on Cockatoo Island. The event will present some of the country’s finest performers for a two-hour concert of opera classics under the stars, hosted by the irreverent Jonathan Biggins. Tahu Matheson will conduct a full orchestra and an all-star cast of singers including Stacey Alleaume, Natalie Aroyan, Chanyang Choi, Diego Torre and Luke Gabbedy. Tickets include pre-booked ferry transfers and a ticket to the performance with the option of adding a 3-course pre-performance dinner, interval drinks and the post-show midnight party to their booking. Alternatively more casual food and beverage options will also be available. But if something a little more classic is in your sights, then Opera Australia’s annual NYE festivities at the Sydney Opera House will include a lavish production of Puccini’s La Bohème in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Italian maestro Lorenzo Passerini conducts the Opera Australia Orchestra and a cast of exceptional singers as they perform the much-loved bohemian tale of four friends navigating their way through their shared experiences of ecstasy, jealousy and loss. With interval timed to coincide with the 9pm fireworks and the opera finishing in time for the midnight… Read More

Design exhibition at the V&A: its pivotal role in our time

Design 1900 to Now installation shots , 16th June 2021

From 1900 to now, design has been an integral part of how we’ve evolved, but also existed. The latest exhibition at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London is testament to that, exploring how design shapes and is shaped by how we live, work, travel, communicate and consume.   Housed within the museum’s former 20th Century Gallery, this newly curated space brings together leading design objects alongside the first redisplay of V&A’s celebrated Rapid Response Collecting programme since its founding in 2014.   As part of the gallery, new acquisitions will go on display for the first time at the V&A, including Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir’s iconic British road signage system, Kim Kardashian’s Selfish book, Nike’s Nigeria football shirt for the 2018 World Cup and a one-of-a-kind desk designed by Future Systems for Condé Nast Chairman Jonathan Newhouse.  For more and to book your visit, head to the V&A website

A world first for art: Caldera Festival introduces world first custom immersive art festival

Caldera light

Caldera Festival is the activity that encourages the audience to actively engage with their environment from the moment they enter the event space. And it’s wild. Guided only by light and sound, visitors are invited to search for artworks, discoverable within the Caldera 360º digital playground. Chase each down in turn, click to open, and take charge of the camera angle to tailor your own art experience. Once discovered, each artwork can be visited over and again via an easily accessible menu, for a quick breath of creativity, and the opportunity to try out a new viewing perspective. The Caldera Festival’s been conceived, created and filmed especially for the 360-degree medium and the Caldera 360º performances and artworks are scattered across the site in such a way as to require members to immediately engage and play. Sign up now for the world-first Caldera 360º art experience at 360.caldera.sydney A once-off $10 fee includes unlimited access to the existing five artworks and is also an investment in the creation of future experiences, acting as a kind of crowdfunding to get a second round of content off the ground. For a limited time – until June 30, 2021, new subscribers can enter the promo code FIRE to access a 50% discount.

Get your art fix: the work of Yang Yongliang at Sullivan + Strumpf Sydney

Yang Yongliang art

Born in Shanghai in 1980, at the dawn of China’s open door economic policies, Yang Yongliang has, throughout his lifetime, witnessed the relentless transformation of his surroundings. Now an artist who channels traumatic erasure of his personal history. Decades ago, his own birthplace, an ancient water town with traditional houses, a famous pagoda, and old humpbacked stone bridges over quiet canals, was swallowed by the ever-expanding Shanghai suburbs. So much so that when he returned from university, almost everything he remembered had vanished. On and on, an unceasing expansion, bulldozers tearing up and destroying the landscape, ancient villages replaced by endless rows of high-rise apartment blocks lining eight lane highways. Very movingly, his work’s as if he is constantly revisiting the moment of shock, returning home to find no trace of the familiar. At once fascinated and appalled by this transformation, his work is a lament for all that has been lost, and a warning for the future. And now you can see it digitally courtesy of Sydney’s Sullivan + Strumpf gallery in Zetland

Personalise your listening life: Spotify’s new Only You feature

Music woman

Because no one knows you like you do, Spotify’s got onto it and is offering a new global in-app experience, creating personalised playlists celebrating the uniqueness of how you listen. It’s about celebrating how you listen and offers features that do that in all its glory. Think: Audio Birth Chart: Brought to life through the artists you listen to Sun: the top artist you’ve listened to over the last six months Moon: an artist you listen to that best shows their emotional or vulnerable side Rising: an artist you’ve recently connected with Dream Dinner Party: The three artists you’d invite to the dinner party of your dreams. Once selected, Spotify will create a personalised Spotify Mix for each artist to set the mood.  Artist Pairs: The unique audio pairings that you’ve listened to recently, showing your range of listening interests.  Song Year: How you’ve musically traveled through different time periods.  Time of Day: The music and podcast content you listen to either early in the morning or late at night.  Genres/Topics: How music and podcast genres set them apart based on your listening habits. Check it out on Spotify now!