MEDIA RELEASE Verdi | Directed by Davide Livermore | Conducted by Andrea Battistoni / Pier Giorgio Morandi Spectacular new production of set to be a winter season highlight 18 July – 31 August | Joan Sutherland Theatre, House Starring | Amber Wagner | Elena Gabouri | Riccardo Massi | Warwick Fyfe

The most epic opera of all time, Verdi’s mighty Aida returns to the Sydney in July with an Australian premiere production by celebrated Italian director and designer Davide Livermore. Making his Opera debut, Livermore has carved out an astounding career across all facets of the theatre, from triple-threat performer, designer and writer through to director. This new interpretation of Verdi’s world of Egypt, will convey the scale, depth and magnificence demanded by this monumental opera. The set will feature ’s new integrated digital technologies, transporting the audience experience to a whole new level and marking the first stage of this exciting new development in theatrical staging. Coupled with Gianluca Falaschi’s magnificent costume designs, this brand new production is set to be a feast for the senses. Completing the picture, Opera Australia has assembled a cast featuring some of the world’s best singers. American powerhouse soprano Amber Wagner, who made her OA debut in the 2016 Melbourne Ring Cycle, stunning audiences with the sheer beauty and size of her voice, will play Aida along with talented Australian soprano Natalie Aroyan who will be making her main-stage role debut as Aida in the second half of the season. Joining them will be outstanding Italian Riccardo Massi as Radamès, direct from The Met in NYC where he sang the role to great acclaim, and, in her OA debut, the stunning French-Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri will play Amneris. Keeping them all in line will be one of the world’s most exceptional young conductors, Andrea Battistoni, the youngest to ever conduct at at the ripe old age of 24, who is currently Chief Conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the opera house in Genova and he’s not yet 30 years old From its moving opening with delicate strings in the orchestral prelude, to its famous Triumphal March, this is a score that demands wrapt attention, conveying the breadth of human emotions and giving rise to extraordinary performances. Premiering in 1871 when was well established as the leading composer of his day, Aida was a spectacle from the start, with no expense spared on the costumes and accessories, its reputation has endured and is known as one of the most popular around the world.

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About the Artists Aida marks the premiere production for OA by Italian director and choreographer Davide Livermore. For more than 20 years he has forged an outstanding career on the main stages of Europe, during which time he has been stage director, stage, wardrobe and lighting designer, singer, dancer, actor, scriptwriter and teacher. Throughout his career he has also sung at the main opera theatres in the world with artists such as , Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Since 2002, Mr Livermore has been artistic director of Teatro Baretti in , where his focus has been on experimental music theatre. Since 2013 he has also been artistic director of the Centre Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo. Critics have praised Mr Livermore as one of the newcomers of great merit on the operatic scene. His production of at in Turin was chosen by Musical America as one of the 10 best shows of 2011. American soprano Amber Wagner has been praised for her “gleaming, ample and effortless sound… and gorgeous, creamy tone.” (Chicago Tribune). Recent career highlights include her European debut with Prague State Opera as Brangäne in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde; Elsa in Wagner’s with and Savonlinna Opera Festival; Leonora in Verdi’s at Washington National Opera in a new production directed by Francesca Zambello; her debut as Anna in Verdi’s , followed by Amelia in Verdi’s ; the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos at Lyric Opera of Chicago and concert performances at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, both conducted by Sir Andrew Davis; and Sieglinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre for Opera Australia’s Ring Cycle in 2016. Making her OA debut, French-Russian mezzo soprano Elena Gabouri has performed in opera houses in France, and Russia, receiving acclaim for her performances of Amneris in Verdi's Aida, Azucena in Verdi's The Troubadour, Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, Zia Principessa in Puccini's Sister Angelica, Madame de la Haltière in Massenet's Cinderella, Miss Baggott of Britten's Let's Make an Opera, Concepcion in Ravel's L'heure espagnole and the title role in Bizet's . International prizes include: First Prize at Arles Opera Competition; Grand Prix at the Vivonne Singing Competition; Second Prize and Audience Prize at Catalan Singing Competition; and The Jury Prize at Corsica Competition. Italian tenor Riccardo Massi is well-known to OA audiences for his performances in La forza del destino, , Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Aida and . Mr Massi is rapidly earning international recognition as an exciting spinto tenor, and has been heard in theatres including Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, in Trieste, Berlin State Opera and Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Recent debuts include Andrea Chenier at Stockholm Opera House, Tosca at Covent Garden, with conductor Placido Domingo, at Oslo Opera House and Don José in Bizet’s Carmen at Deutsche Oper in Berlin. Warwick Fyfe is a Helpmann Award-winning singer and is considered one of Australia’s finest . Mr Fyfe has a long association with OA and more recently has been expanding his international career working with English Touring Opera, , and performing in concert in Australia, UK, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. Recent roles include Alberich in , Paolo in , Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Klingsor in for OA; as well as Alberich in in Tokyo, and Peter in Hansel and Gretel in Singapore. He returns to OA in 2018 as Sancho Panza in Don Quichotte, Amonasro in Aida,Geronio in Il Turco in Italia and Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Italian born Andrea Battistoni is a fast-rising talent in the international music scene, last seen in Australia conducting OA’s Tosca in the 2018 Melbourne Autumn Season. He began his conducting career in 2006, in theatres including Deutsche Oper of Berlin, Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg, Palau de les arts of Valencia, Teatro Bunka Kaikan of Tokyo, Semperoper of Dresden, Royal Opera of Stocholm, National Center of Performing Arts of Bejing, Arena of Verona, Teatro San Carlo of Naples, of Rome, Teatro of Venice, of Genova, of Trieste, Teatro Lirico of Cagliari and of . Maestro Battistoni has already conducted many different operas including Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Il viaggio a Reims; Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto; Verdi’s Nabucco, , , , , , , and Un ballo in maschera; Puccini’s La Bohème, Tosca and ; and Bizet’s Carmen.

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Creatives Performance information Conductor Andrea Battistoni (until 9 Aug) Evenings at 7.30pm Conductor Pier Giorgio Morandi (from 11 Aug) July 18, 24, 26, 28 Director & Choreographer Davide Livermore August 1, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 22, 27, 29, 31 Set Designer GIOFORMA & Davide Livermore Saturday Matinees at 1.00pm Costume Designer Gianluca Falaschi July 21 Lighting Designer John Rayment August 4, 25 Digital Designer D-Wok Assistant Director Matthew Barclay Running time Approximately three hours including one twenty minute interval Cast Sung in Italian with English and Aida Amber Wagner (until 9 Aug) simplified Chinese surtitles Aida Natalie Aroyan (from 11 Aug)

Amneris Elena Gabouri (until 9 Aug) Amneris Clémentine Margaine (11, 16, 20, 22, 25, 27 Aug) Bookings Amneris Milijana Nikolic (13, 18, 29, 31.Aug) Adult tickets from $46 (fees may Radamès Riccardo Massi (18, 21, 26 Jul; 1, 7, 13, 18, 22, 27 Aug) apply) Radamès Yonghoon Lee (11, 16, 20, 25, 29, 31 Aug) Group and concession prices available for most performances. Diego Torre (24, 28 Jul; 4, 9, Aug) Student Rush available for most Amonasro Warwick Fyfe (Until 9 Aug) performances: $50 (fees may Amonasro Michael Honeyman (from 11 Aug) apply) Ramfis Roberto Scandiuzzi Opera Australia Box Office The King Jud Arthur (18, 21, 24, 26, 28 Jul; 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, (02) 9318 8200 16, 18, 20, 27, 29, 31 Aug) www.opera.org.au The King Gennadi Dubinsky (22, 25 Aug) High Priestess Jane Ede Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera Messenger Dean Bassett House

Opera Australia Chorus Opera Australia Orchestra

Media enquiries Janet Glover | Public Relations Manager 02 9318 8246 | 0412 601 816 [email protected]

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