Opera Australia has announced the performers of its New Year’s Eve gala concert. The company said Ben Mingay and Katie Stenzel will host the Gala at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Mingay made his OA debut earlier this year as Papageno in “The Magic Flute“ and has performed at the Voctprian Opera and at QPAC. Meanwhile, Stenzel is a coloratura {…}
(Credit: Opera Australia) The Play House at Geelong Arts Centre is set to present Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The production will be showcased via Opera Australia which is expanding its 2024 mainstage offering beyond the capital cities. The opera will be shown in a production by Kate Gaul, which received high acclaim at the Sydney Opera House earlier this year. {…}
Opera Australia has announced its 2025 season. Sydney The season opens with Massenet’s “Cendrillon.” Evan Rogister and Tahu Matheson conduct. Laurent Pelly directs a cast starring Emily Edmonds, Margaret Plummer, Sian Sharp, and Emma Matthews. Performance Dates: Dec. 31, 2024 – March 28, 2025 “The Barber of Seville,” in a production by Elijah Moshinsky, stars Samuel Dale Johnson, Samuel Dundas, {…}
Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Jo Davies has stepped down from her position. Per an official press release, the decision came following a difference of opinion on the direction of the organization. “I am proud of the artistic excellence and success of the work we have been able to achieve in my tenure and enormously grateful to the amazing audiences, patrons, {…}
(Image Courtesy of Carriageworks) Opera Australia, Sydney Chamber Opera, and Carriageworks are joining forces to present the world premiere of Jack Symonds and Louis Garrick’s “Gilgamesh.” The opera, which is based on the famed myth and will be presented at Carriageworks from Sept. 26- Oct. 5, 2024, will be directed by Kip Williams and stars Jeremy Kleeman in the title {…}
Opera Australia (OA) has announced that it is set to showcase a new production of the musical “Guys & Dolls” for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in 2025. The classic musical will be set in 1950s Manhattan, a colorful and glamorous world filled with showgirls and gangsters, set against Sydney’s glittering skyline. With music by Frank Loesser and book by {…}
(Credit: Keith Saunders) It was commissioned by and premiered at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2017. Then new cities followed suit every year (apart from the horrid COVID-infected era): Adelaide Festival (2018), a new production in Cologne, Germany (2019), the massive success at the Metropolitan Opera of New York (2022) and the Bavarian State Opera in München (2023). Finally, after seven {…}
Opera Australia has announced that it will present the nationwide premiere of Laurent Pelly’s production of Massenet’s “Cendrillon” next year. The production heads to Australia following stints at the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera House Covent Garden. It will feature Emily Edmonds in the title role alongside Margaret Plummer as Prince Charming. As the Fairy Godmother, audiences will experience the {…}
(Photo credit: Keith Saunders) The program booklet for Opera Australia’s new production at Sydney Opera House of “Tosca”, an Opera North production, says that “Puccini set each act of his opera in three very specific locations which you can still visit today: the Sant’Andrea della Valle church in Rome, the Palazzo Farnese and the Castel Sant-Angelo over the River Tiber”. {…}
Opera Australia has announced that it will offer 500 tickets for the special price of $35 to celebrate the launch of its new Opera for Under 35s program. The program is designed to encourage younger audiences to experience the world of opera and the initiative will kick-off with the Australian premiere of Edward Dick’s highly anticipated production of “Tosca,” opening {…}
Opera Australia has announced the appointment of French violinist Matthieu Arama as Concertmaster for the Opera Australia Orchestra. the news comes after a worldwide search and Arama will join the OAO in August this year. Arama is currently the Concertmaster of the orchestra of the Opéra National de Bordeaux and he has been guest and soloist with some of the {…}