Articles on Opera review
Displaying 1 - 20 of 28 articles
Opera Australia’s new production of Turandot has elements of staging and singing to commend – but nothing quite comes up to the level of Young Woo Kim.
Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette is given a significant new production from State Opera South Australia, West Australian Opera and the Irish National Opera.
Directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, this Carmen is defined by many degrees of contrast: a contemporary retelling of the 19th century opera.
The new opera is a co-production by Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, and the Perth Festival and Brisbane Festival.
Across the program, I was struck by how it was often more in the act of putting on and performing the work, rather than their spoken content, that expressed political responses to our times.
A new production by Kate Gaul does not shy away from pantomime silliness.
In Rinaldo, Pinchgut Opera deliver a rare synergy of historical and contemporary elements.
First performed in 1693, Pinchgut Opera sets this baroque opera in the 20th century – with remarkable relevance to today.
Dr George Ian Ogilvie Duncan was murdered at a gay ‘beat’ in the 1970s. His death was instrumental in South Australia’s decriminalisation of male homosexual acts.
Neil Armfield’s production of the Benjamin Britten opera is a triumph of sure-footed direction, subtle vocal shadings, brilliant comic timing and orchestral precision.
A new narration written by Alison Croggon and performed by Eryn Jean Norvill comes together in triumph.
Vivaldi’s Farnace is a masterpiece of 17th century opera, but has been largely forgotten. This new production is the best revival production by Pinchgut Opera yet.
This new version of Gluck’s opera, from Opera Queensland and Circa, is raw, physical and confronting. Completely captivating and deeply moving.
A world premiere performance of a new Australian opera is an exhilarating experience. But the music in this reworking of the Peter Carey novel underwhelmed.
A new opera focuses more on the personal life of artist Brett Whiteley than his artistic creations. As the opera reveals, a life like Whiteley’s does not offer a clear moral message.
If The Return of Ulysses is not Monteverdi’s most inspired creation, it is close to it. And Pinchgut Opera’s premiere may have been the first time this wonderful work was presented professionally in Australia.
Gioachino Rossini’s opera was originally meant as a satire of royalist France. A new production updates the work for a modern audience, setting the drama in a museum where the paintings come to life.
It is rare to have a new production of an Australian opera - a vivid new performance of The Children’s Bach was refreshing to see.
The Australian premiere of La Passion de Simone uses multiple voices to tell a story about philosopher Simone Weil. But the work lacks the emotional drama of its subject’s life.
Artaserse is an old Roman fable of treachery and the ethical power of clemency that becomes a psychological study of conflicting desires.



















