After 20 years, Opera Australia launches a season for Brisbane, 2012
“From the moment I joined Opera Australia I knew I had to bring the Company to Brisbane. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is a magnificent space for opera, and I’m delighted we can present two such magnificent productions.” – Artistic Director, Lyndon Terracini.
“From the moment I joined Opera Australia I knew I had to bring the Company to Brisbane. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is a magnificent space for opera, and I’m delighted we can present two such magnificent productions.” – Opera Australia’s Artistic Director, Lyndon Terracini.
Australia’s national opera company have officially launched their 2012 season for Brisbane today, after more than twenty years without a programmed season in Queensland. Two spectacular and engaging operas, The Magic Flute and A Midsummer Night’s Dream will play at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre for the first time, and QPAC Chief Executive, John Kotzas says it’s definitely been worth the wait.
“Brisbane will be the only city in Australia where audiences can experience Opera Australia’s performances of [Baz Luhrmann’s] A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2012″, he said.
In May and June 2012, the sets and costumes of Luhrmann’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the New York Metropolitan Opera’s The Magic Flute will be transported fron the Opera Australia workshop in Surry Hills, Sydney, to Brisbane on large semi-trailers – and this is no small undertaking. But the powers-that-be at Opera Australia, with Lydon Terracini at the helm, are committed to bringing opera to a greater audience.
“We take our role as Australia’s national opera company very seriously,” said Opera Australia Chief Executive, Adrian Collette. “Given the complexity of fully-staged opera and the vastness of our country, it is not always easy, but we are passionate about making opera available to the widest possible audience.
In addition to the Brisbane season at QPAC, OA will also bring their new travelling production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni directed by Michael Gow to regional Queensland as part of Oz Opera, the touring arm of Opera Australia.
Lyndon Terracini has a QLD connection, having served as the Artistic Director of the 2006, 2008 and 2009 Brisbane Festivals and also at the Queensland Music Festival. It is evident he is as thrilled to bring these works to Brisbane as Brisbane is about receiving them:
“The Magic Flute is like nothing you have ever seen. Giant puppets, sculptural costumes (pictured) and dance convey the fantastic world of Mozart’s final opera. This is a night in the theatre for the whole family”, he enthused.
“Baz Luhrmann’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream breaks all the rules – Shakespeare’s masterpiece is transported to India, the orchestra is on the stage, and Puck is a blue-faced Hindu god! We’ve assembled a dream cast and one of the world’s greatest authorities on Benjamin Britten, Paul Kildea, is conducting. It will be, in a word, magical.”
Check out this video on The Magic Flute prop construction!
Tickets for the Brisbane Season go on sale from Monday 21 November
Tickets and packages range from $60-$165 and are available through QPAC Box Office
Phone 136 246
