A monthly newsletter about all things new opera & opera adjacent in Australia.
It's been a busy year of research and development for FLUXUS. We continue developing Flash House (formerly known as Little Lon) with script development and a music workshop. We launched our education program Opera in a Day. And we're working on the final touches of a new work program launching in 2025.
Flash House development artists: Dimity Shepherd, Jess Hitchcock, Mama Alto, Chloe James & Alastair Cooper-Golec
It's also been a good year for conteporary opera in Australia with highlights including:
GILGAMESH
Opera Australia, Sydney Chamber Opera & Carraigeworks
SYDNEY
"An uplifting, almost transcendental experience, a new opera fully born" (Martin Portous, Stage Whispers), composed by Sydney Chamber Opera's Artistic Director Jack Symonds and directed by Kip Williams with a cast including Jane Sheldon, Jessica O'Donoghue, Jeremy Kleeman, Mitchell Riley and Daniel Szesiong Todd.
MOTHER
A co-production with Sydney Conservatorium of Music & NIDA
SYDNEY
In Cosmic Utero Music by Aija Draguns, Libretto by Bianca Watkins
The Lullaby Music by Hao Zhen, Libretto by Lily Thomson
Menarche Music by Jessica O’Donoghue, Libretto by Rebecca Duke and Karina Young
M.TH.R Music by Oliver John Cameron, Libretto by Xavier Hazard, Megan Rundle and Oliver John Cameron.
Contemporary Australian opera remounted in 2024 include:
WATERSHED
Opera Australia
MELBOURNE & SYDNEY
With "an engaging, ear-beguiling score and a powerful libretto that was by turns raw and uplifting," (Gordon Williams, Opera Wire), composed by Joe Twist with libretto by Christos Tsiolkas & Alana Valentine. Cast includes Mark Oates, Pelham Andrews, Thomáš Kantor & Macon Escobal Riley.
ANTARCTICA
Sydney Chamber Opera & Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
SYDNEY
Following success at the 2023 Sydney Festival, Mary Finsterer's Antarctica made its debut in Tasmania with "music [that] is at one cinematic, deliciously dissonant and evocative of the epic scale of endlessness in Antarctica," (Charlotte Smee, TimeOut). Cast includes Chloe Lankshear, Jessica O'Donoghue, Michael Petruccelli & Anna Fraser.
HAMLET
Opera Australia
SYDNEY
"Revenge thriller, psychological drama – this reworking of Hamlet is an emotionally charged and brilliant piece of work," (Gina Fairley, ArtsHub). Brett Dean's Hamlet is one of the most successful operas ever composed by an Australian. This performance featured cast: Allan Clayton, Lorina Gore, Rod Gilfry, Catherine Carby, Kanen Breen, Samuel Dundas, Jud Arthur, Nicholas Jones, Russell Harcourt, Christopher Lowrey, Andrew Moran, Virgilio Marino, Iain Henderson & James Crabb.
PARRWANG LIFTS THE SKY
Victorian Opera
MELBOURNE
After its 2021 debut, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO's Parrwang Lifts the Sky returned to Melbourne audiences with Sarah Prestwidge, Michaela Cadwgan, Douglas Kelly & students from the University of Melbourne.
EUCALYPTUS
Victorian Opera & Opera Australia
MELBOURNE
Composer Jonathon Mills and librettist Meredith Oakes create "A breathtaking opera that brings the beauty and mystique of the Australian bush to life," (Australian Arts Review). With a cast including Desiree Frahn, Simon Meadows, Michael Petruccelli, Samuel Dundas, Natalie Jones and Dimity Shepherd.
Other Australian Opera highlights:
MARGARET AND THE GREY MARE
Sydney Festival
SYDNEY
Composed by Sally Whitwell and co-created with artist Katy B Plummer and a bespoke artificial chatbot comes an immersive opera video installation. With cast, Margaret Plummer, Michael Honeyman & Katy B Plummer.
THE CHILDREN'S BACH
Lyric Opera
MELBOURNE
Composed by Andrew Schulz and libretto by Glen Parry, Lyric Opera's performance was "provocative, complex and honest," (Paul Selar, Arts Review). Brought to life with a cast including Kate Amos, Michael Honeyman, Ben Touzel, Chris Touzel, Juel Riggal, Adrian Li Donni, Lucy Schneider & Chloe Taylor.
Look for our next blog in a few weeks, which will discuss everything to look forward to in 2025.
Please, as always, let us know of any recitals, productions, developments, or performances that we should be aware of. We will include them 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
Comments