A monthly newsletter about all things new opera & opera adjacent in Australia.
All the new work we can find in Australia for the month of September and a shout out to an Aussie making great things overseas.
GILGAMESH
Opera Australia & Sydney Chamber Opera
SYDNEY
In this world premiere, the ancient and modern collide as The Epic of Gilgamesh—humanity’s oldest written epic—comes to life in a brand-new opera. This tale of a young king's journey through love, loss, and transformation still resonates today, tackling themes of mortality, sexuality, and our connection with nature.
Composed by Sydney Chamber Opera's Artistic Director Jack Symonds and directed by the visionary Kip Williams (outgoing STC Artistic Director and the man who helped bring us the groundbreaking Dorian Gray ) , this is the first English-language opera based on Gilgamesh. Expect a surreal experience with singing scorpions, the Bull of Heaven, and doomsday oracles.
This marks OAs first collaboration with Sydney Chamber Opera, known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary opera. The Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Offspring add their collective virtuosity to Symonds' vibrant score, conducted by the composer himself. The cast includes a couple of the superstars of contemporary opera making in this country Jane Sheldon and Jessica O’Donoghue and the huge talents Jeremy Kleeman, Mitchell Riley, and Daniel Szesiong Todd.
DATE: 26th September - 5 October
TIME: 7:30pm (3pm)
PLACE: Carriageworks, Sydney
See https://opera.org.au/productions/gilgamesh-sydney for more information.
Don Giovanni
BK Opera
MELBOURNE
The Don as a sex pest in a BDSM club? While not a new opera by any means, and not a even new concept (ENO 2016 for one), BK Opera are a small company trying to find new ways of presenting opera and as September is rather light on new work (NOTE TO SELF LET'S MAKE MORE NEW WORK!!), we thought we would let you know about it regardless because there are a heap of great emerging artists involved and tickets are cheap so it would be rude not to go!! Presented at the Meat Market because... of course.
This dark and intimate production explores the line between consensual sexual proclivities and abuse. Don Giovanni stars some of Australia's finest emerging artists.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Depictions of violence, sexual violence, sexual activity, drug use, haze, flashing lights
DAY; 24 - 28 September
TIME: 7:30 pm
PLACE: Meat Market Stables, North Melbourne
See https://www.bkopera.com.au/don-giovanni-2024 for more information
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHT
Victory Hall Opera (VHO) has been hailed as "the future of the field" by The Washington Post for its innovative approach to chamber opera in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. It is led by Australian expat and extraordinary soprano, director and all round POWERHOUSE, Miriam Gordon Stewart.
Now in its 9th season, VHO is redefining what an opera company can be—a Troupe of top-tier singers advancing the art form together.
Over its first eight years, VHO has produced 28 original shows, including 6 world premieres, and several Virginia and U.S. premieres, drawing audiences from 18 states. Impressively, 45% of their 2023 audience were new to opera.
VHO's work has earned multiple national accolades, including three Music Academy of the West's Alumni Enterprise Awards and major grants from The Jefferson Trust, New Music USA, and the NEA for their innovative and inclusive productions.
VHO uses its unique "Motif" methodology, where performers' improvisations shape the movement and choreography, creating productions that are personal, relevant, and unlike anything else. With award-winning modular set designs and world-class singing in intimate venues, VHO offers an extraordinary and engaging opera experience.
Miriam is also a librettist and her recent collaboration with Matt Boehler adapting Neil LaBute's play Fat Pig into an opera was remarkable and we can't wait to see where it goes in the future. You can also hear her sing this month with the Melbourne Bach Choir in their presentation of Verdi's Requiem at Melbourne Town Hall 14th September. A rare treat to hear one of our greatest operatic exports on her home turf.
Please, as always, let us know of any recitals, productions, developments or performances that we should know about and we will include in future blog posts and on our instagram account.
This blog is in no way sponsored by any of the companies mentioned* and is created by FLUXUS to celebrate contemporary Australian Opera.
*OPEN TO OFFERS
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