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Opera

Sydney Opera House: The Opera (The Eighth Wonder) ★★★★

by •
ABR Arts • 31 October 2016
Opera

Sydney Opera House: The Opera (The Eighth Wonder) ★★★★

by •
ABR Arts • 31 October 2016

‘Music defies time but needs its timekeepers. Even beauty must sometimes grasp the grubby helping hand of the real world.’

Dennis Watkins

Opera and politics are closely intertwined. The commissioning, composition, and performance of opera have been used as a political instrument in many different contexts, while the actual presentation of opera has often had an overtly political dimension, with operatic performance and opera theatres themselves constituting a significant reflection of political aspirations, national prestige, and identity.

New operas in Australia, or anywhere else for that matter, that receive a second, let alone a third production are exceedingly rare. It is greatly to be welcomed that Opera Australia is presenting Alan John and Dennis Watkins’s opera, The Eighth Wonder – premièred in 1995 – although now badged as Sydney Opera House: The Opera. This ‘new/old’ opera had its first performance on the steps of the said Opera House on 28 October 2016. (The original work enjoyed a revival in 2000 as part of the Olympic Festival, and both series of performances were generally well received by public and critics alike.)

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Michael Halliwell

Michael Halliwell studied literature and music at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, at the London Opera Centre, and with Tito Gobbi in Florence. He has sung in Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia and was principal baritone for many years with the Netherlands Opera, the Nürnberg Municipal Opera, and the Hamburg State Opera singing over fifty major operatic roles, including several world premiere productions. He has served as Chair of Vocal Studies and Opera, Pro-Dean and Head of School, and Associate Dean (Research) at the Sydney Conservatorium. He is President of the International Association for Word and Music Studies. His publications include the monographs, Opera and the Novel (Rodopi: 2005); and National Identity on Contemporary Australian Opera: myths reconsidered (Routledge, 2018), as well as many chapters and articles. He still performs regularly and recent CDs include When the Empire Calls (ABC Classics, 2005); O for a Muse of Fire: Australian Shakespeare Settings (Vox Australis, 2013); Amy Woodforde-Finden: The Oriental Song-Cycles (Toccata Classics, 2014); That Bloody Game; Australian WWI Songs (Wirripang, 2015).

Leave a comment
Michael Halliwell

Michael Halliwell studied literature and music at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, at the London Opera Centre, and with Tito Gobbi in Florence. He has sung in Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia and was principal baritone for many years with the Netherlands Opera, the Nürnberg Municipal Opera, and the Hamburg State Opera singing over fifty major operatic roles, including several world premiere productions. He has served as Chair of Vocal Studies and Opera, Pro-Dean and Head of School, and Associate Dean (Research) at the Sydney Conservatorium. He is President of the International Association for Word and Music Studies. His publications include the monographs, Opera and the Novel (Rodopi: 2005); and National Identity on Contemporary Australian Opera: myths reconsidered (Routledge, 2018), as well as many chapters and articles. He still performs regularly and recent CDs include When the Empire Calls (ABC Classics, 2005); O for a Muse of Fire: Australian Shakespeare Settings (Vox Australis, 2013); Amy Woodforde-Finden: The Oriental Song-Cycles (Toccata Classics, 2014); That Bloody Game; Australian WWI Songs (Wirripang, 2015).

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Comment (1)

  • Brilliant production. The show was awesome for a first timer at an opera performance. I was there the opening night on Friday and was VERY impressed at everything, sound, lighting and props and of course especially very proud of Stacey. Highly recommended.
    Posted by Steven Alleaume
    01 November 2016