Opera Australia has announced that the Chorus will perform an exclusive one-night-only concert of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem at Sydney’s historic St James’ Church. The concert, which will be held on May 22, will showcase 30-strong Opera Australia Chorus members and will be led by Chorus Master Paul Fitzsimon and accompanied by Chad Kelly who will play the church’s Bicentennial Pipe {…}
(Photo credit: Keith Saunders) The Opera Australia production of Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” that opened at the Sydney Opera House on March 13 was the second time in a year that Erin Helyard conducted the work. Previously, Helyard’s own company Pinchgut Opera had presented the work at Angel Place Recital Hall. This time Helyard conducted a co-production between Opera Australia {…}
(Photo credit: Carlita Sari) Lillian Hellman, who suggested the idea of the musical “Candide” to the great American composer Leonard Bernstein, once described Voltaire’s original 1759 novel on which the show is based as “the greatest piece of slapdash ever written.” The novel certainly packs a breathless pace as it follows its eponymous hero on an adversity-filled journey around the {…}
(Credit: ©David Kelly) Opera Australia is set to present Henry Purcell’s “Dido & Aeneas.” The production is Opera Queensland’s production directed by Yaron Lifschitz, Artistic Director of the widely acclaimed acrobatic troupe Circa. The production showcases the winning formula of his highly praised “Orpheus & Eurydice,” merging Circa’s physicality and Opera Australia’s musicianship in a contemporary operatic retelling of the {…}
Opera Australia is set to present Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” with Eddie Perfect and Lyndon Watts. The work will be performed at the Joan Sutherland Theatre starting Feb. 20, 2025 and running through March 14, 2025. The operetta will be performed in a production by Dean Bryant with costumes by Dann Barber, lighting by Matt Scott, and choreography by Freya List. The {…}
(Photo credit: Keith Saunders) One of the benefits of reviewing operas is the opportunity to take guests whose experience of opera may be comparatively recent, and whose reactions are refreshingly unbound by preconceptions. At the end of scene one of Opera Australia’s “The Barber of Seville” at Sydney Opera House on Saturday January the 18th my guest on the night {…}
(Photo Credit Guy Davies) Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” directed by Sarah Giles for Opera Australia (OA) was performed in three Australian states, before it arrived at the Sydney Opera House in the first days of 2024. Given its overall success, it comes as no surprise that a revival in Sydney took place barely a year later. It is a stylish {…}
Opera Australia has announced that CEO Fiona Allan will step down. The announcement comes ahead of the release of the results of an inquiry into Opera Australia’s management processes by Creative Australia It also comes as the company saw an operating loss of $4.9m per its annual report. In a statement, OA Chair Rod Sims said, “Fiona’s tireless work has {…}
Opera Australia has announced Angelina Thomson will play Miss Adelaide in its brand-new production of the Broadway musical “Guys & Dolls.” Thomson was chosen after an extensive nationwide search to find the right performer with the voice, dance moves, and comedy chops to bring to the role. Thomson previously performed at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in the ensemble of “West {…}
Opera Australia is set to present “La Traviata” in Sarah Giles’ luscious production. The opera, which will be presented between Jan. 23 and March 27, 2025, at the Sydney Opera House, will star Australian sopranos Samantha Clarke and Lorina Gore as Violetta. They will be joined by Korean tenor Ji-Min Park and Australian Iain Henderson as Alfredo and baritones José Carbó {…}
(Photo Credit: Carlita Sari) Opera Australia is set to host a performance of “Opera Up Late” on Jan. 30, 2025. The showcase, which combines comedy, cabaret, and opera, will be hosted by Reuben Kaye and will star Emma Matthews alongside Adam Player, Tomas Dalton, and Angela Hogan. Shaun Rennie directs the performance at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney {…}