2008 Season | Melbourne Opera

2008 Season

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I Puritani

by Vincenzo Bellini

Melbourne Opera is proud to present the leading Australian operatic conductor and bel canto specialist Richard Divall leading an exciting new production of Bellini’s magnificent romantic masterpeice I Puritani. The distinguished international cast is led by Joanna Cole in the highly demanding role of Elvira, a tour-de-force of bel canto singing which remains one of the pinnacles of the soprano repertoire. Joining Joanna Cole is the rising star of Australian tenors Roy Best, with international bass Steven Gallop returning from Germany to sing the superb bass role of Giorgio. Phillip Calcagno, James Egglestone, George Kozlowski and Felicity Baldock round out the hand-picked cast for this exciting operatic event.

I Puritani is regarded as Bellini’s masterpiece, and was last performed in Melbourne by the Victoria State Opera in 1986

Melbourne Opera’s new production is mounted in honour of its Patrons Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE and Maestro Richard Bonynge AO CBE, true keepers of the bel canto flame.

Directed by Hugh Halliday. Conducted by Richard Divall.
Performed in Italian with English subtitles

"Melbourne Opera maintained an audience for traditional, well-sung and economically presented opera. Its I Puritani of Bellini with Joanna Cole singing Elvira was, in its compact intelligence, one of the stand-out musical events of the year." - John Slavin, The Age 22/12/2008

Reviews and Synopsis (opens in new window)

La Boheme

by Giacomo Puccini

A superb all-star cast including Alison Rae Jones, Roy Best, James Egglestone, Philip Calcagno, Maxine Montgomery, Lee Abrahmsen, Lucas de Jong, Roger Howell and Ian Cousins brings the most romantic of all operas to life in a beautiful new production, sung in English. La Boheme features some of the best loved arias and ensembles of all time including "Your tiny hand is frozen", "They call me Mimi" and "Musetta’s Waltz Song".

Melbourne Opera Chorus and Orchestra,
Conducted by Greg Hocking / Rick Prakhoff / Matthew Toogood
Directed by Hugh Halliday, designed by Richard Jeziorny

Reviews , synopsis and Director’s notes (opens in new window)

The Marriage of Figaro

by W.A. Mozart & Lorenzo Da Ponte

A new production of the greatest operatic comedy of them all, completing Melbourne Opera’s acclaimed trilogy of the Mozart/Da Ponte masterpieces.

Directed by Hugh Halliday and featuring an all star cast led by Gary Rowley and Adrian Tamburini with Vanessa West, Suzanne Shakespeare, Phillip Calcagno, Margaret Haggart, Roger Howell with the superb Melbourne Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

Melbourne Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Conducted by Rick Prakhoff and Greg Hocking
Directed by Hugh Halliday, designer Andrew Bellchambers

Synopsis (opens in new window)