FOOD & DRINK, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFE & TRAVEL
This December, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs are set to enchant audiences once again with their much-loved Messiah concerts, a cherished Sydney Christmas tradition that has spanned over a century.
Who knew Yiddish could be this much fun? The latest Yentl production at the Sydney Opera House, directed by Gary Abrahams and produced by Moira Finucane, breathes new life into the 1962 Isaac Bashevis Singer tale, and it’s an absolute riot. It’s not every day you get full frontal nudity and emotional turmoil sprinkled with comedy—but hey, here we are. In this story reimagined with modern flair, Amy Hack dazzles as Yentl, the woman who defies Orthodox Jewish tradition by disguising herself as a man to study religious scripture. Her performance is heart-wrenching, but also hilarious, thanks in large part to Evelyn Krape, who narrates and plays multiple roles, including Yentl’s father. Krape’s witty quips and goofy antics lighten the mood just when things get heavy, ensuring you don’t get lost in the drama. Whether she’s poking fun at the solemnity of faith or teasing Yentl’s romantic entanglements, she keeps the audience giggling. Hack’s emotional portrayal is backed up by the impeccable cast—Nicholas Jaquinot as Avigdor and Genevive Kingsford as Hodes are particularly strong, creating the perfect love triangle. And let’s not forget, these actors learned Yiddish for their roles, adding authenticity and nuance to the performance. Whether in moments of passion or quiet reflection, the cast pulls you into their world, making it feel as though you’re right there in the shtetl with them. While the storyline remains true to the original Yentl—love, faith, and the search for identity—the modern twist of queerness adds depth to the narrative. The exploration of gender, tradition, and… Read More
Cosi Fan Tutte, an opera by the legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, weaves a tale of love, deception, and the fragility of human emotions. Here’s why you’ll love it.
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
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
The recipient of five-star reviews and emotional standing ovations at its sold-out premiere season at the 2022 Adelaide Festival, Neil Armfield’s acclaimed opera Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan will make its Sydney debut with Opera Australia in June.
Get ready for an electrifying and larger-than-life experience as the smash-hit musical, West Side Story, returns to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage for a strictly limited 4-week season from March 22. This annual highlight of Sydney’s cultural calendar promises an unforgettable night out, combining breathtaking performances with stunning views and entertainment. An Unforgettable Experience Audiences will be treated to the greatest score ever written for musical theatre, dynamic dance numbers, and captivating voices that resonate through the open air. The brilliant cast of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour is set to deliver an unforgettable performance, making this event one of Sydney’s most spectacular nights out. Each performance will culminate with a nightly fireworks display, adding a touch of magic to an already extraordinary experience. Moreover, the venue offers a variety of pop-up bars and eateries across the site, ranging from fine dining to casual bites, ensuring that there’s something for every taste. Indulgence and Luxury For those seeking a touch of luxury, the stunning HSBC Platinum Club will offer a fine-dining dinner menu before each performance, with drinks available before the show and during the interval. Nestled among the treetops, this exclusive setting provides truly spectacular views overlooking Sydney Harbour, promising an unmissable and indulgent experience. Additionally, ticketholders will have access to the Qantas Garden Bar, Feel New Sydney Terrace, Southern Terrace, and Northern Cantina, each offering a more casual atmosphere with a mix of dinner, drinks, and snacks. This allows audiences to tailor their evening to perfection, creating their own ideal… Read More
Prepare yourselves for an evening of uproarious laughter and spectacular vocals as the dazzling Reuben Kaye graces the Joan Sutherland Theatre once more with “Opera Up Late” – an unparalleled fusion of opera and comedy that promises more than just a night at the theatre. Hailed as the diamond at the heart of last year’s WorldPride festival, this comical genius will captivate you on Friday, 1st March, for a one-night extravaganza that guarantees to annihilate the conventional boundaries of classical and cabaret. Picture the scene: the clock strikes 10:45 pm, and a murmur of anticipation ripples through the hallowed hallways of the Sydney Opera House. The stage ignites with a spectacle of colour and the air thrums with iconic operatic melodies, reborn with a refreshingly irreverent twist. With Reuben Kaye at the helm, this event draws together the creme de la creme of Australian talent, including operatic tenor Benjamin Rasheed and the effervescent Georgina Hopson, to name but a few. Reuben Kaye is an unparalleled mastery of satire, combined with a vocal prowess that defies expectation, crafts an experience that is at once breathtaking and wildly unorthodox. This is not your grandmother’s night at the opera. It’s an invitation to partake in something revolutionary, a chance to witness the extraordinary, a rendezvous with the sublime and the ridiculous. Those familiar with Kaye will recognise his inimitable style: vivid, audacious, and endlessly entertaining. “Carmen at eight years old was just the overture,” Kaye quips with signature flair. Prepare for the crescendo as he delivers what could… Read More
Italian maestro Ludovico Einaudi, renowned globally for his signature blend of neo-classical, pop, ambient, and experimental music, is set to grace the stage of the Sydney Opera House from 2 – 5 February. The Concert Hall, now boasting revitalised sonic surroundings, will hear the exquisite notes of Einaudi’s piano, a decade after he made his Australian debut on the same stage. Audiences can expect an immersive experience as Einaudi, the world’s most streamed classical music artist, presents music from his 2022 album, ‘Underwater’, alongside timeless classics from his extensive 40-year career. The performances will feature Einaudi’s distinguished blend of piano, violin, viola, cello, electronics, and percussion, weaving a rich tapestry of sound that is an exploration of genre and form. The composer’s affinity with the Sydney Opera House is palpable, with Einaudi stating, “It is my great pleasure to return to the Sydney Opera House for four concerts. It is one of my favourite iconic places where I love to perform. Its last passionate and warm audience response still resonates in my heart.” Einaudi’s extraordinary career, spanning multi-million-selling albums; critically acclaimed film and television scores including the Oscar and Golden Globe-winning films, The Intouchables, Nomadland and The Father; and a haunting iceberg performance in the Arctic Ocean for Greenpeace, testifies to his versatility as a composer. His recent success on TikTok, where his 2013 track ‘Experience’ gained over 15 billion views and inspired 7 million video creations, has introduced a new generation to his moving compositions. Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall,… Read More
Opera Australia is set to give its premiere performance of Philip Glass’ Satyagraha, a hypnotic masterpiece featuring minimalist compositions, at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on Saturday, May 13. The operatic depiction of Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent protest in South Africa during his early years, performed in its original Sanskrit language, presents a challenging role for Indian-born tenor Shanul Sharma. Sharma, who started off as a heavy metal vocalist, will portray Gandhi for the first time in his career, becoming the first Indian-born Australian to perform as a principal artist in Opera Australia. Opera Australia regular, Australian soprano Rachelle Durkin who was previously appointed for the role of Mrs Schlesen with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, is set to play the same role here. The Opera Australia Chorus will perform the substantial four-part chorus and Opera Australia’s Head of Music, Tahu Matheson, will lead Orchestra Victoria sans brass or percussion instruments. It’s directed by Andy Morton and features a talented cast of Opera Australia principals, including Andrew Moran, Richard Anderson, Sian Sharp, and Alexander Sefton and you know will be an incredible experience. For more and tickets head to the Opera Australia website
