SEASON 2011 SUBSCRIBE Truly. Madly. Deeply. AND SAVE! From the From the Premier of Queensland and Chief Executive/Artistic Director Minister for the Arts Come and celebrate Opera Queensland’s Welcome to Opera Queensland’s fi rst 30 years with 120 years of season for 2011. superlative creation. For nearly three decades, Opera After the success of our Verdi double Queensland has been presenting operas and musicals in 2009, it seems only fair to pay Puccini the same courtesy. across our state and, recently, across state borders. While there is a 43-year overlap in ages, in operatic terms, these two composers are not contemporaries, representing Not only is Opera Queensland expanding in its reach and as they do two musical traditions. Puccini sweeps us into scope, the company has found new ways to connect with the 20th century with melody to delight us all and a masterly audiences of many ages through programs with primary workmanship set to please even the most discerning. And students and young people in regional communities. so it is in May, that we bring you a wonderful new production My government provides key funding to Opera Queensland of The Girl of the Golden West, an opera never before seen as one of the state’s fl agship arts companies. in Queensland. While in October, we present John Copley’s I would like to acknowledge Opera Queensland’s corporate celebrated production of Tosca in all its traditional glory. After partners, many of whom have been onboard for more than an eight-year gap it is a great joy to return this magnifi cent a decade and who, along with government support, help piece to the Lyric Theatre. to realise the many great programs and productions. Winter sees the welcome return of another pioneer with I look forward to a year of artistic highlights from our state Mozart’s Così fan tutte. This is a delightful comedy that opera company. beautifully proclaims profound and passionate truths. With Mozart at the very summit of his creative powers, come and revel in the splendour of his unsurpassed invention. Please join us in 2011 for a year of rich experiences. Anna Bligh, MP Chris J Mangin Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Arts Chief Executive/Artistic Director Puccini Mozart Puccini 14–28 May 9–30 July 15–29 October Lyric Theatre Conservatorium Theatre Lyric Theatre QPAC QCGU, South Bank QPAC (La fanciulla del West) Win a Weekend in Melbourne or a Naxos CD Library of Season 2011! See page 15 for details. ANDREAS SCHOLL WALTZING OUR MATILDA DAVID HOBSON AND TEDDY 23 March 29 July TAHU RHODES IN CONCERT Concert Hall, QPAC Conservatorium Theatre 23 November QCGU, South Bank Concert Hall, QPAC MAY 2011 M T W T F S S ‘It’s the gritty, grubby reality of the west coupled withw the 14 15 7.30PM 16 1177 18 19* 20 21 2222 yearning romanticism of ‘the West’st’ that are so brilliantlybrillliantly 6.30PM captured by Jamieson and his team.’ Stagege Noise 23 2244* 25 26* 27 28 1.30PM *30 Below Series 2 An Opera Conference co-production PRODUCTION NEW TO QUEENSLAND Amarilli Nizza Julian Gavin Douglas McNicol Love, deception and a Colt .45 Everyone’s got gold fever! It’s the California Gold Rush and this tight- Conductor Peter Robinson knit mining community is fi ercely protective of its saloon sweetheart Original Director Nigel Jamieson Minnie. Sheriff Jack Rance will do anything to win her over but having Revival Director Gavin Robins waited all her life for the right man to walk through her doors, she Set Designer Michael Scott-Mitchell falls helplessly and hopelessly in love with the ‘new kid in town’, Dick Costume Designer Zoë Atkinson Johnson, aka the wanted bandit Ramerrez. When the stakes are raised, Lighting Designer Philip Lethlean Minnie plays her best hand in order to win Johnson’s freedom. Minnie Amarilli Nizza Set amongst the rough-and-tumble of a mining camp, this new Dick Johnson (Ramerrez) Julian Gavin prproductionoduc blends all the action, romance and pace of the greatest Jack Rance Douglas McNicol HoHollywoodllywood wewesternsste with a treasure trove of Puccini’s melodies. Sonora José Carbó Ashby Andrew Collis InInternationalternatioonal soprano AmarilliAmari Nizza makes her Australian debut Nick Bradley Daley as the aadorabledorable Minnie, with UK-basedUK-ba Australian tenor Julian GaGavinvin ass tthehe dastardly Dick Johnson.Johnson Popular baritone Douglas McMcNicolNiicol returns to perform the rrole of Jack Rance, joined by fafavouritesvouru ites José Carbó as Sonora,Sonor Andrew Collis as Ashby and BrBradleyadley Daley as Nick. La fanciulla del West by Giacomo Puccini 14–28 May Lyric Theatre, QPAC Sung in Italian with projected English translations Queensland Symphony Orchestra Running time – approximately three hours Opera Queensland Chorus including two twenty-minute intervals 3 JULY 2011 M T W T F S S 7.30PM 6.30PM 9 10 1.30PM ‘Smith has taken a fresh, clean, light approach to the 11 12* 13 14 15 16 17 design, capturing the journey of a single summer’s day 18 19 20 21* 22 23 24 in sets and costumes.’ Courier Mail 25 26 27 28* 29 30 31 *30 Below Series 4 An Opera Queensland production LeanneLeanne KeKenneally Virgilio Marino Zoe Taylor Shaun Brown AllAll women are likelike that!that! All bets are on. Two sisters, two soldiers and one holiday villa by the Conductor Stephen Mould sea set the scene for the ultimate test in love and loyalty. In a single Director David Berthold day, the four lovers and their two confi dants will have questioned the Designer Christopher Smith very nature of love itself – all due to a plot devised by Don Alfonso. Fiordiligi Leanne Kenneally This popular romantic comedy has been reworked by David Dorabella Zoe Taylor Berthold (Artistic Director of La Boite Theatre Company), from Guglielmo Shaun Brown an original concept by Sue Rider, and set in the era of Pride and Ferrando Virgilio Marino Prejudice. Mozart’s beautiful score aptly portrays the sentiments Despina Emily Burke of this story about real people with genuine emotions. Don Alfonso Stephen Bennett 9–30 July Conservatorium Theatre QCGU, South Bank Queensland Symphony Orchestra Sung in Italian with projected English translations Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Running time – approximately three hours and ten minutes including one twenty-minute interval 5 OCTOBER 2011 ‘Tosca is high voltage emotion … It was melodramatic, M T W T F S S 7.30PM 6.30PM tragic and romantic all at once.’ Scene Magazine 15 16 1.30PM ‘Puccini has written soaring songs that lift the spirit, 17 18 19 20* 21 22 23 chill the soul or do both at the same time.’ Brisbane News 24 25* 26 27* 28 29 *30 Below Series 6 This production is presented by arrangement with Opera Australia Cheryl Barker Julian Gavin Douglas McNicol Back by popular demand! Puccini’s tempestuous tale of desire and betrayal makes a triumphant Conductor Nicholas Braithwaite return to Queensland with its original director John Copley. Director John Copley Spectacular in every respect, creating a truly memorable evening. Set Designer Allan Lees Costume Designer Michael Stennett Napoleon is poised for victory and in this climate of civil unrest and Lighting Designer Donn Byrnes fear, the love of fi ery singer Floria Tosca and painter-revolutionary Cavaradossi is tested by the lustful and corrupt chief of police, Floria Tosca Cheryl Barker Scarpia. Confrontations abound as they engage in a fi erce battle of Mario Cavaradossi Julian Gavin wills and this powerful drama moves towards its inevitable but heart- Baron Scarpia Douglas McNicol rending tragedy. Australian soprano Cheryl Barker reprises the role Sacristan John Bolton Wood for which she is renowned both here and overseas. Spoletta Virgilio Marino Cesare Angelotti Andrew Collis Undoubtedly one of Puccini’s masterworks; the thrilling music is Sciarrone David Hibbard emotional and intensely dramatic, exploding with spectacular Gaoler Guy Booth melodies and beautiful, impassioned arias. 15–2915 October LyricLyric TTheatre, QPAC QueenslandQueensland SymphonySymph Orchestra OpOperaera QQueenslanduee Chorus SungSun in Italian with Giacomo Puccini projectedprojected EnglishEng translations RunningRunning time – approximately twotw hours and forty miminutesnutes iincludingncluding two twenty-minutetwenty intervals 7 Andreas Scholl Countertenor Andreas Scholl Harpsichord Tamar Halperin Cello Daniel Yeadon Lute Tommie Andersson Andreas Scholl asks just one thing of his audiences – Program ‘Take a deep breath, let’s just sigh collectively and enjoy Henry Purcell this beautiful music.’ Arias and dances, including No countertenor has had the same impact as Andreas Scholl from the Evening Hymn (1688), Dido’s Lament (Dido and Aeneas, 1689), moment of his debut performance in 1993. Fanfare magazine said, Fairest Isle (King Arthur, 1691), ‘One countertenor stands out above all others, as Caruso among tenors Music for a While (Oedipus, 1692) and a century ago: Andreas Scholl.’ Sweeter than Roses (Pausanius, 1695). Scholl combines a natural voice of extraordinaryordinary George Frideric Handel purity with heartfelt passion for the repertoirertoire Vedendo Amor, HWV175 he chooses. A respected specialist in Baroque,roque, Nel dolce tempo, HWV135 Renaissance and Mediaeval music, he alsoso Wednesday, 23 March at 7pm records pop songs and folk music. This iss Concert Hall, QPAC all perfectly natural to him, as long as he Opera Queensland subscribers are loves what he sings. offered a unique opportunity to secure priority seating and discounted tickets Scholl has devised an intimate, poised when purchased with their 2011 program that balances the music of subscription, before 17 January, 2011. Purcell, ‘Master of English Song’, with Presented by Musica Viva in association two cantatas by the young Handel from with Opera Queensland. his ‘Arcadian’ period in Rome. Scholl will be accompanied by outstanding Baroque specialistsecialists Tamar Halperin on harpsichord, cellist Danielaniel Yeadon and lutenist Tommie Andersson.