MEDIA RELEASE 5 JUNE 2019 KATS-CHERNIN & FLEMING: Whiteley | Director David Freeman | Conductor Tahu Matheson Whiteley’s world laid bare with brand new fully-digital Australian opera NEW PRODUCTION July 15–30 2019 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Starring | Leigh Melrose | Julie Lea Goodwin | Kate Amos Opera Australia’s newly commissioned work about the turbulent life of iconic Australian artist Brett Whiteley and his vivacious wife Wendy will have its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House on 15 July 2019. Simply titled Whiteley, this keenly anticipated production brings together some of Australia’s finest creative talents with director David Freeman at the helm, celebrated composer Elena Kats-Chernin, multi-award-winning playwright Justin Fleming and conductor Tahu Matheson, OA’s highly respected head of music. Production designer Dan Potra who wowed audiences with his Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Turandot set, is joining forces with internationally renowned video designer Sean Nieuwenhuis to deliver what is expected to be a spectacular stage display, creating an immersive world of Whiteley, incorporating some of his celebrated artworks and emotive graphics on the huge LED screens. Whiteley is the third new production in OA’s digital season, that features twelve of the 7m high, suspended LED screens, choreographed to move seamlessly around the stage, creating a visual landscape that needs to be seen to be believed, and taking opera to a whole new level. Taking on the challenging task of playing such well documented, real-life characters will be English baritone and highly acclaimed interpreter of contemporary opera, Leigh Melrose playing Brett and Australia’s sweetheart soprano Julie Lea Goodwin who recently wowed the audience as Maria in West Side Story will play Wendy. OA Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini is thrilled to be presenting a new Australian work that he believes people will actually want to see. “I think we’ve brought together the best possible team to realise this story, Elena Kats-Chernin in particular is a national treasure and I know her music will resonate with audiences. “It’s important that we continue to tell Australian stories and create new works - as an art form we have to keep moving forward with the way we present opera and combining this story with our new digital staging, I'm confident it will attract new people to our audience,” said Terracini. 1 Creatives Performance information Composer Elena Kats-Chernin Evenings at 7.30pm Librettist Justin Fleming July 15, 18, 20, 24, 30 Director David Freeman Saturday Matinee at 1.00pm July 27 Production Designer Dan Potra Lighting Designer John Rayment Running time Video Content Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis Approximately 2 hours, including one interval. Assistant Director John Sheedy Consultant Ashleigh Wilson Performed in English with English surtitles. Cast Brett Whiteley Leigh Melrose Bookings Wendy Whiteley Julie Lea Goodwin Adult tickets from $47 (fees may apply) Younger Arkie Whiteley Natasha Green Group and concession prices available for most Older Arkie Whiteley Kate Amos performances. Younger Beryl Whiteley Ruth Strutt Student Rush available for most performances: $50 Older Beryl Whiteley Dominica Matthews (fees may apply) Joel Elenberg Richard Anderson Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200 Dark Figure/Michael Driscoll Nicholas Jones www.opera.org.au Patrick White Gregory Brown Queen Mother Annabelle Chaffey Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Robert Hughes Alexander Hargreaves Bryan Robertson Tomas Dalton Media enquiries John Rothenstein Jonathan Alley Janet Glover | Public Relations Manager Frank Lloyd Brad Cooper 02 9318 8246 | 0412 601 816 Anna Schwartz Leah Thomas [email protected] Fijian Backpacker Celeste Lazarenko Fijian Police Officer Sitiveni Talei Janice Angela Hogan Opera Australia Chorus Opera Australia Orchestra 2 .