She's a Very Merry Widow, Danielle De Niese to Star at the Opera House This Summer

MEDIA RELEASE Lehár | Directed & Choreographed by Graeme Murphy | Conducted by Vanessa Scammell

Australian-born international singing star Danielle de Niese is making a triumphant return to her homeland to make her Opera Australia debut in the new Graeme Murphy production of The Merry Widow. After performing in the finest opera houses across the US, UK and Europe, de Niese is finally returning home to sing and dance the glamorous lead role of Hannah Glavari in her first full staged opera in Australia.

“We’re tremendously excited to have Danielle de Niese finally making her opera debut in Australia,” said Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. “This will be a production absolutely not to be missed, filled with incredible tunes, unforgettable dance routines and a captivating cast.” Born in Melbourne, Danielle became the youngest performer to win Young Talent Time at just 9 year’s old. Soon after, the de Niese family packed up young Dani and moved to the USA where she landed a television role hosting a program called L.A Kids, which she won an Emmy Award for at just 16 years old. Clearly she was a star on the rise; becoming the youngest singer ever to participate in the Young Artists Studio at the Metropolitan Opera in New York at 18yrs and then within a year making her main-stage debut at The Met in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. On the strength of this performance, de Niese went on to make major debuts across Europe and in 2005 made her Glyndebourne Festival debut as Cleopatra in Sir David McVicar’s production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, catapulting her to international fame. Now living in the UK, de Niese is married to Gus Christie, chairman of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and along with their son, they reside at Glyndebourne House, the venue of the internationally renowned annual opera soiree.

Terracini said he specifically wanted Graeme Murphy to direct because he wanted it to feel like a dance musical. “It is an operetta with a Great Gatsby feel to it. Yes it’ll be funny but it’ll be beautiful with wonderful singers, actors and dancers. It’s thrilling that this new production involves such wonderful performers and big stars with spirited choreography by the wonderfully talented Graeme Murphy.” The Merry Widow is a delicious confection: a light-hearted look at love amid the champagne and glitter of Art Deco France. Ladies sweep into ballrooms in satin fishtail gowns, and dapper gents in suits and patent leather shoes kiss your hand and fill up your dance card.

Creatives Performance information Conductor Vanessa Scammell Evening at 8.00pm Director & Choreographer Graeme Murphy NYE December 31, 2017 Associate Director & Choreographer Evenings at 7:30pm Janet Vernon Tuesday to Saturday January 2 – February 3 (except Australia Day Jan 26) Set Designer Michael Scott-Mitchell Monday Evenings at 6:30pm Costume Designer Jennifer Irwin January 8, 15, 22, 29 Lighting Designer Damien Cooper Saturday matinées at 1pm Sound Designer Tony David Cray January 6, 13, 20, 27 Assistant Director & Choreographer Shane Placentino February 3 Assistant Director Matthew Barclay English Translation Justin Fleming Running time Two hours and fifty minutes including two intervals Cast Performed in English. Hanna Glavari Danielle de Niese (evenings) Bookings Julie Lea Goodwin (matinees) NYE Performance show-only tickets start at Danilo Danilovich Alexander Lewis $299 Baron Mirko Zeta David Whitney Season Adult tickets from $46 (fees may apply) Valencienne Stacey Alleaume Group and concession prices available for Camille de Rosillon John Longmuir most performances. Njegus Benjamin Rasheed Student Rush available for most Alexis Kromov Richard Anderson performances: $50 (fees may apply) Bogdanovich Christopher Hillier Opera Australia Box Office Sylviane Jane Ede (02) 9318 8200 www.opera.org.au Raoul de St. Brioche Graeme Macfarlane

Viscount Nicolas Cascada Luke Gabbedy Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera Olga Kromov Agnes Sarkis House Konrad Pritschich Tom Hamilton Praskovia Dominica Matthews Commissioned by the Opera Conference, Australia’s national partnership of professional opera companies With the Opera Australia Orchestra and the Opera Australia Chorus

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