Podcasts about Opera Australia

One of Australia's foremost young conductors, Luke Spicer has appeared as guest conductor of the Tasmanian, Queensland, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and as a conductor and music director with Opera Australia. He's also been guest Assistant Conductor at the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, the Saarländisches Staatstheater of Saarbrücken, and with the Sydney Symphony, working with both Simone Young and Vladimir Ashkenazy.In this conversation, Luke reflects on his journey from violinist to violist to conductor, influenced by formative experiences including a pivotal moment in Bathurst. He recounts studying under demanding mentors like Gianluigi Gelmetti, and his early performing experiences, including touring with Opera Australia. Luke Spicer conducts musicians of the Guizhou Chinese Orchestra and the Australia Orchestra for Folk Reimagined: East in Symphony in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on Monday 7 July and at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday 9 July.

Susannah Lawergren has developed a reputation as a beautifully clear soprano with “stunning vocal expression” and “compelling stagecraft”. A principal artist with both The Song Company and Bach Akadamie Australia, she's also performed with our other top ensembles, from Sydney Chamber Choir and Opera Australia, to Cantillation and Ensemble Offspring, plus has appeared at the Sydney and Adelaide Festivals and the Canberra International Music Festival.In this conversation, Susannah speaks candidly about her musical upbringing and studies, and reflects on the unique qualities of singing in different languages, explaining how language profoundly shapes vocal expression. We hear about how a beer at a pub serendipitously led to her involvement with Bach Akadamie Australia, plus about her career-making role with The Song Company. She also delves into the technical and emotional challenges of singing early and contemporary music, the importance of vocal pedagogy, and how her teaching approach emphasises sustainable practice and motor learning. Susannah Lawergren performs The Class of 85 with Bach Akadamie Australia 30 May to 1 June, followed by Love's Four Seasons with The Song Company from 6 to 15 June.

Described as a renegade opera star and cabaret artist, Ali McGregor began her career as a principal soprano with Opera Australia before running away to the circus to become an award winning cabaret performer. Nominated for an ARIA in 2014, she went on to win both a Green Room and Helpmann Award in 2015. She's one of the most in-demand performers on the international festival circuit and is a former artist director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, performing at venues from Glastonbury and Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House.She's currently collaborating with the Signum Saxophone Quartet and Musica Viva for Hollywood Songbook, a concert tour exploring the turbulent first half of the 20th Century through the music of emigres such as Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler, with performances until 17 May.In this interview, Ali traces her journey from performing at Opera Australia to creating innovative, genre-blending shows. She discusses the artistic freedom and creative risks involved in moving from traditional opera to the cabaret scene, and shares insights into her creative process plus her role as an artistic director. The conversation also touches on her efforts to make classical music more accessible and engaging to broader audiences through inventive programming and theatrical flair.

John Harding, a founder of Ilbijerri Theatre Company and veteran playwright, recorded 20 hours of Taungurung elder Uncle Larry Walsh recounting his life story. The result is Lazarus, a sold-out theatre show telling a life of tragic beginnings as a stolen child, survival in institutions and fearless activism. We also hear Billy McPherson, playing Larry. Lazarus is on as part of Melbourne /Naarm's Yirramboi festival.Jason Arrow is known to many as the titular character in Hamilton where he had an extraordinary run both in Australia and internationally. Now he has put his breeches and coat tails away and has donned a 1950s dapper suit for the character of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Opera Australia's Guys and Dolls on Sydney Harbour. He sings for us the showstopper Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat!The Player Kings is a show which takes the audience on an 8-hour journey through plays by Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe that chart the rise and fall of five kings. Liam Gamble is making his professional theatre debut, alongside Emma Palmer who plays the evil Queen Margaret. Liam has cerebral palsy, and talks about playing the villainous Richard III, a character who is disabled and endures cruel treatment.

This episode of The Stage Show is about love that doesn't end well!The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is retold in a hit folk musical called Hadestown. It's won Tonys, Grammys and is now in Australia. We speak to the singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell, who wrote Hadestown as a concept album, before touring it around in an old bus and then turning it into a remarkable stage show with the Broadway director Rachael Chavkin.Soprano Anna Dowsley sings the gorgeous aria Ah Belinda! In  Dido and Aeneas,  the opera by Henry Purcell about another ill-fated couple from classical times. Anna reflects on her character's fate and on working with acrobats in this production between Opera Australia and Circa, the Queensland based circus company.Anton Chekhov's play Three Sisters  follows the lives of  a 19th C. family who feel trapped and are hankering for something more. It continues our theme for the day of tragic love-stories. We hear from Theatre Works' new production with director Greg Carroll,  and actors Stella Carroll and Chris Connely. And globe trotting theatre critic from UK's The Stage newspaper, Richard Jordan, joins us for his highlights of the Adelaide Fringe .

Bobby Fox is best known for originating the role of Frankie Valli in the Australian production of Jersey Boys. He has appeared in many other musical theatre productions, including Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Spamalot, Oklahoma and Sweet Charity, amongst others, and he received a Helpmann nomination for his role in Stephen Sondheim's Assassins which played at both the Hayes and the Sydney Opera House. He also has a shuffle in his shoes, having been a part of Riverdance as well as a four time World Irish Dance Champion. He has released the album The Fantastic Mr Fox.Bobby takes us through his childhood in regional Ireland, learning to dance as soon as he could walk, and being part of Riverdance from just 15 years of age. His journey ultimately takes him to Australia where he has lived for over 20 years as a successful musical theatre performer.Bobby Fox appears in Guys and Dolls, this year's Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour thanks to Opera Australia, from 21 March to 20 April.

One of Australia's most eclectic, respected and prolific artists, Eddie Perfect has received multiple awards and nominations for the different strands of his work. He won the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work for Shane Warne: The Musical, and received a Tony nomination for Best Original Score for his work as composer/lyricist of Beetlejuice. He's back on stage to star in Opera Australia's new production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, and from this May will once again perform his own music as he takes on the title role in the Australian run of Beetlejuice.In this conversation, Eddie takes a deep dive into the development and creation of a successful Broadway show, charting his initial struggle to get his foot in the door, the long process of writing, workshopping, and re-writing, to coping with the initial out-of-town and Broadway premieres to an initially lacklustre critical response. The show went on to receive eight Tony nominations. He also talks about his formative years as a performer that eventually led to creating Shane Warne: The Musical.This episode of In Conversation contains additional content to the broadcast edition.

Shortly before he died, Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto performed a piano concert called Kagami – which was filmed and recorded with mixed reality technology. Thanks to that, the audience can see and hear Sakamoto play on a level of reality which pushes the boundaries of what a concert can be. Todd Eckert was a friend of Sakamoto and through his company Tin Drum, is pioneering this tech for the stage. The tragic heroine Violetta, from La Traviata, is one of the most iconic roles in opera.  Samantha Clarke is reprising her much acclaimed performance as the ill-fated courtesan for Opera Australia's La Traviata and explains why Violetta is so dear to her. She also sings the breathtaking aria Addio del passato for us, accompanied by Brian Castles-Onion.For generations, Yolngu met and traded with other seafaring people in the top end of the continent. From this, language and songs, stories and more was exchanged. Now the Yolngu songman and dancer Banula  Marika and choreographer Rachael Wallis are collaborating with First Nations artists from Taiwan, including Suming Rupi … for a show called Gapu Ngupan (Chasing the Rainbow) at Asia TOPA in Melbourne.

In Conversation begins a new year with a conductor whose passion for music is irrepressible. Australian born Daniel Smith is now based in Italy, and proudly bears the Italian honour of Australian Cultural Ambassador. Following his highly successful debut with The Mariinsky Orchestra, Daniel has guest conducted the Czech Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, amongst many others. Daniel shares stories of his hard fought career milestones, from cornering maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti in a Sydney Opera House lift to beg him to take him on as a student, to his breakthrough being the only conductor to be awarded Laureate in four of the most prestigious international conducting competitions in a single year. He speaks with great passion on his plans to share culture with as broad an audience as possible. Daniel Smith conducts The Barber of Seville for Opera Australia, which plays at the Sydney Opera House until 28 February.

New Year, who dis? Only return guest, the iconic John Xintavelonis! (Yayyy!) As well as introducing, how brilliant new co-host, poached directly from 'Music Rewind Podcast', Stephen Epley!This week, John and AW drag Stephen through a Trial by Jury - but will it be a Death by Fire?Plus, we chat Theatre Ghosts, Guys and Dolls on Sydney Harbour, Bringing Big Musical Tours to Tassie, Aussie Rules Football, and heaps more in this hilarrrious episode! --SOCIALS--John X: Twitter: www.twitter.com/johnxactor -- IG: instagram.com/johnxactor Guys and Dolls Tickets: https://opera.org.au/productions/guys-dolls-on-sydney-harbour/Stephen: Twitter: https://x.com/MusicRewindPod -- IG: https://www.instagram.com/musicrewindpodcast/Music Rewind Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iBCPPLvFMP1nXsrPm8O2N?si=ea8a05cea62d4949*****Juxtaposing Metal with Musicals - joined by iconic guests from the worlds of Music, Broadway, Hollywood, and more! https://www.thetonastontales.com/listen -- https://www.patreon.com/bloomingtheatricals - https://twitter.com/thrashntreasurehttps://linktr.ee/thrashntreasure*****Help support Thrash 'n Treasure and keep us on-air, PLUS go on a fantastical adventure at the same time!Grab your copy of The Tonaston Tales by AW, and use the code TNT20 when you check out for 20% off eBooks and Paperbacks!https://www.thetonastontales.com/bookstore - TNT20 *****   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's been 100 years since the death of the Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. From La Bohème to Turandot, Puccini's operas remain some of the most popular around the world. To explore Puccini's life and legacy, we're joined by musicologist Dr Linda Fairtile and hear performances from two Opera Australia productions.Also, since Hamilton debuted in Australia in 2021, the American founding father has been played by the South African-born, Perth-raised performer Jason Arrow. He's now been in the role for longer than the show's writer and original star, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

David Hobson is an Australian tenor, composer and performer. He is Australian Royalty in the music space and is one of Australia's best known operatic and recording artists. He has sung many roles for Opera Australia and in both state and international opera companies, including his award-winning performances of Rodolfo (La Boheme) and the title role in Orphee. Other roles include Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Ferrando (Cosi fan Tutte), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Saville), Nadir (Pearl Fishers), Lindoro (L'Italiana in Algeri), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance), The Architect in the world premiere of The Eighth Wonder, Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), the title role in Candide, Danilo (The Merry Widow) and Aristaeus/Pluto (Orpheus in the Underworld). In the world of music theatre, David has played the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Buddy in Sondheim's Follies and Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl. Special engagements include appearing with the San Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Dangerous Liaison, a performance in the Great Hall, Canberra for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Schubert's Winterreise for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and singing the national anthem at the AFL Grand Final. He has performed his own show at the Sydney Opera House and at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and toured nationally with Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Yvonne Kenney and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. He is also well known from his appearances on Carols in the Domain, Carols by Candlelight, Spicks and Specks, It Takes Two, Dancing with the Stars and as a presenter on the Foxtel arts channel, STUDIO. He has recorded numerous albums with many reaching No 1 chart status. David has also won awards including Operatic Performer of the Year, the Sydney Critics Circle Award, The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Performer in Opera and an Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Award. In 2023, David performed around Australia in a 60 city concert tour of The 2 of Us, with Marina Prior. David recently toured around Australia with comedian Colin Lane in their show, In Tails. We chat about saying no, collaboration, falling into his work, physicality behind opera, doing comedy with Colin Lane, his voice and looking after it, gratitude, rejection, generosity of spirit, fork in the road moments plus plenty more.   The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan Check David out on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhobbo/ Website: https://www.davidhobson.net.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidhobsontenor/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcLFneHVu5PDu46YBlGOecw In Tails with David Hobson and Colin Lane: https://www.davidhobsonandcolinlane.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1IjPdzVCaGhebzQzGMlfAv?si=bMPD1SLYRQOKnEU0i-YhHg&nd=1&dlsi=b6fb61e4d69542c3 ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook https://www.instagram.com/funnyinfailure/ https://www.facebook.com/funnyinfailure/ and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info. https://www.instagram.com/michael_kahan/ https://twitter.com/Michael_Kahan

Joining Jack and Eden in the last episode of 2024 is Raphael Wong, who is currently playing Eddie Souther, the respected police officer in Sister Act.  Raph made his debut with Opera Australia in 2012 and has performed as Passarino in Phantom of the Opera, Cinderella's father in Midnight, and Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods. They also chat with Sophie Loughlin and Belinda Jenkin about Love Actually? The Musical Parody being performed as part of the Christmas Showtime Festival. THE LINKS ⁠Our website⁠ ⁠Our Instagram⁠ ⁠Our TikTok⁠ Raphael Wong's Instagram Sister Act tickets! Sophie's Instagram Belinda's Instagram Love Actually? The Musical Parody tickets!

Sydney has one of the most recognisable opera house in the world, but some of the most innovative opera-making is happening at the other end of town, in the building where they used to build train carriages. Sydney Chamber Opera, led by o Jack Symonds, is a young, experimental collective of opera makers, collaborating with the established national company Opera Australia to bring Jack's epic Gilgamesh to the stage. Directed by Kip Williams, it is a new opera based on a very old story of queer desire, environmentalism, and dancing scorpions. Ce Benedict follows Gilgamesh from pianos falling through floorboards in rehearsals, to Opera Australia's artistic director unexpectedly stepping down, through to the literal glitter of opening night.

Death is not a very funny subject. Yet, comedian, writer and musician Eric Idle has spent 60 years showing us the funny side of our all-too-fleeting lives. The Monty Python member is now touring Australia with his show Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live! He's also written a new book about the creation of his musical, Spamalot.Also, as we, as a society, adjust to the ways in which artificial intelligence will affect our everyday lives, playwright José Rivera brings us a clever new play called Your Name Means Dream, and Opera Australia is celebrating the essential role of the opera chorus in a show called Chorus!

Craig has worked in the arts in the United Kingdom, Australia and now, the United States. Hiscurrent role is in Cleveland, Ohio as the President & CEO of Playhouse Square, a uniquecollection of 12 venues presenting an impressive season of performances and concerts as wellas hosting eight resident companies.Craig was previously in London as CEO of the Royal Albert Hall, one of the world's most wellknown and busiest performance venues.Prior to this, he was CEO of Opera Australia, the country's largest performing arts organization.Craig also worked in London for nine years as CEO of English National Ballet; COO ofRaymond Gubbay Ltd, a commercial promoter of classical music; and also consulted to theLondon 2012 Olympic Games on cultural presentations.Before leaving Australia, Craig was Deputy General Manager of Sydney Theatre Company, andworked with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as General Manager of Image, Special Eventsand Olympic Arts Festivals - a role that involved the development and delivery of acomprehensive, substantial, and successful four-year cultural program.Craig has served on the boards of LIFT - the London International Festival of Theatre; TheExhibition Road Cultural Group and English National Ballet School. He is currently on the boardof d&b audiotechnik, a leading manufacturer of speakers for the entertainment industry; C4RD –Centre for Recent Drawing, London; and the University of London. In 2015,Craig was awarded an AM (Australia Medal) for services to the performing arts in Australia and is now a Global Ambassador for Advance Australia.

After a stint being homeless and living in his car, Stephen Smith was working at David Jones Food Hall when one of his colleagues noticed his remarkable singing voice. A few years later, he became a tenor on the operatic world stage (R)

Craig Hassall, CEO of Playhouse SquareCraig is a mainstay in the international theater community, with decades of experience operating and curating the most prestigious venues across Europe and Australia. Over his career, in addition to his role as CEO of the Royal Albert Hall in London, he was also CEO of Opera Australia which oversees the Sydney Opera House, and he was the managing director of the English National Ballet. He also held senior roles for major projects including the 2000 and 2012 Olympic Games in Sydney and London, respectively, in addition to many other endeavors!In 2022, Craig was named as the new President and CEO of Playhouse Square — one of the world's premier arts districts & second largest performing arts center in the United States, outside of NYC. Playhouse Square has an amazing history here in Cleveland dating back to the early 1920's, and today is home to a plethora of resident organizations:The City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland Ballet,Cleveland International Film Festival, Cleveland Play House, Cleveland State University Department of Theatre and Dance, DANCECleveland, Great Lakes TheaterTri-C JazzFest, ...and more — in addition to its role as one of Broadway's premier touring partners.I loved the opportunity to sit down with Craig — as a fellow non-native-Clevelander, it's always fun to find a kindred spirit with a shared appreciation for this city, the excellence within it, and the opportunity ahead of it, on a world stage. In this great conversation, Craig and I unpack his love for performance arts, the arc of his professional career and his path to Cleveland, the history and state of Playhouse Square today, and his ambitious vision for the future.-----LINKS:https://www.playhousesquare.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hassall-4bb7469/https://www.instagram.com/playhousesquare-----SPONSORS: John Carroll University Boler College of Business || Impact Architects & NinetyJohn Carroll University Boler College of Business: https://business.jcu.edu/ As we've heard time and time again from entrepreneurs on Lay of The Land — many of whom are proud alumni of John Carroll University —  success in this ever-changing world of business requires a dynamic and innovative mindset, deep understanding of emerging technology and systems, strong ethics, leadership prowess, acute business acumen… all qualities nurtured through the Boler College of Business!With 4 different MBA programs of study — spanning Professional, Online, Hybrid, and 1-Year-Flexible — The Boler College of Business provides flexible timelines and various class structures for each MBA Track — including online, in-person, hybrid and asynchronous — to offer the most effective options for you, in addition to the ability to participate in an elective International Study Tour, providing unparalleled opportunities to expand your global business knowledge by networking with local companies overseas and experiencing a new culture.The career impact of a Boler MBA is formative and will help prepare you for this future of business and get more out of your career. To learn more about John Carroll University's Boler MBA programs, please go to business.jcu.eduThe Boler College of Business is fully accredited by AACSB International, the highest accreditation a College of Business can have.Impact Architects & NinetyLay of The Land is brought to you by Ninety. As a Lay of The Land listener, you can leverage a free trial with Ninety, the platform that helps teams build great companies and the only officially licensed software for EOS® — used by over 7,000 companies and 100,000 users!This episode is brought to you by Impact Architects. As we share the stories of entrepreneurs building incredible organizations throughout NEO, Impact Architects helps those leaders — many of whom we've heard from as guests on Lay of The Land — realize their visions and build great organizations. I believe in Impact Architects and the people behind it so much, that I have actually joined them personally in their mission to help leaders gain focus, align together, and thrive by doing what they love! As a listener, you can sit down for a free consultation with Impact Architects by visiting ia.layoftheland.fm!-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and many more.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Jeffrey Stern on X @sternJefe — https://twitter.com/sternjefeFollow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Zoe Zeniodi will make history and become the first Greek orchestral conductor for the Opera Australia at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Shortly after her arrival in Australia and a few days before the grande-premiere she spoke to SBS Greek

H Ζωή Ζενιώδη γράφει ιστορία και γίνεται η πρώτη Ελληνίδα που θα διευθύνει την ορχήστρα της Opera Australia στην Sydney Opera House Όπερα. Λίγο μετά τον ερχομό της στην Αυστραλία και λίγες μέρες πριν την πρεμιέρα της όπερας «Così fan tutte» του Βόλφγκανγκ Αμαντέους Μότσαρτ παραγωγής της Opera Australia μίλησε στο SBS Greek

Warwick Fyfe is an Australian opera singer, considered to be one of Australia's leading exponents of the Wagnerian repertoire and is the recipient of Helpmann and Green Room awards.Warwick has performed throughout Australasia and internationally. Most recently, he has sung the rôles of Wotan / Wanderer (MO, OMM and Alberich, OA). Other Wagner rôles include Heerrufer (OA); Beckmesser (OA); Klingsor (OA); Hunding (WASO); Dutchman (OA), Daland (VO); Wolfram (OA); Fasolt (SOSA).Other major work encompasses Amonasro (Aida-FNO, OA); Pizarro (Fidelio-MO, OA,WASO); Athanaël (Thaïs-FNO); Peter (Hansel and Gretel- OA),OMM); Four Villains (Tales of Hoffmann-ETO); Falstaff (OA); Rigoletto (OA, NZO); Sancho Panza (Don Quichotte- OA); Paolo (Simon Boccanegra- OA); Leporello (NZO) (OA); Fra Melitone (Forza del Destino- OA); Scarpia (WAO, OA); Tonio (I Pagliacci- NZO); Faninal (Der Rosenkavalier- OA); Schaunard (La Boheme- OA); Dr Schon /Jack the Ripper (Lulu- OA); Germont (La Traviata- OA); Mandryka (Arabella-OA). Warwick has delighted audiences in comedic rôles, such as Bottom (Midsummer Night's Dream, Adelaide Festival); Barone di Trombonok (Viaggio a Rheims - OA); Geronio (Il Turco in Italia- OA); Dr Bartolo (Barber of Seville- WAO) (VOC); Pooh Bah (OA); Taddeo (Italian Girl in Algiers- NZO); Papageno (OA).Concert work includes: Gurrelieder, (SSO); Carmina Burana (MSO, QSO, Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus); Beethoven 9 (MSO), (Orchestra Wellington); The Bells, WASO; Stabat Mater (Rossini, SSO); Viva Verdi (TYO); St Matthew Passion, St John Passion (Melbourne Bach Choir); Bluebeard's Castle (Monash Academy Orchestra); Mahler 8 (OMM); Stabat Mater (Szymanowski), (Melbourne Bach Choir); Ein Deutsches Requiem (OA), (Melbourne Bach Choir); Messiah (State Symphony Orchestras).Warwick performs the role of Scarpia in Puccini's TOSCA from July 31st to August 16th, for Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Neil Armfield AO is a leading Australian director of theatre, opera and film. Alongside Rachel Healy, Neil was Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival between 2017 and 2022. Prior to that, Neil was the inaugural Artistic Director of Belvoir St Theatre, which he also co-founded, for 17 years.   As Artistic Director of Belvoir, and for other companies, Neil has directed well over 100 productions, with a focus on new and Indigenous writing, Shakespeare, David Hare and Patrick White.  Some highlights include; The Tempest, Hamlet, Up the Road, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Keating!, Toy Symphony, Dallas Winmar's Aliwa, Angels in America, A Cheery Soul, Signal Driver, The Blind Giant is Dancing and Things I KnowTo Be True. Neil's production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman opened in late 2023 to glowing reviews. Produced by GWB Entertainment and Red Line Productions at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne, it starred Anthony LaPaglia and Alison Whyte. After the success of the Melbourne season, the play will be presented at the Theatre Royal Sydney in May/June 2024.   In 2022, Neil directed the world premiere of the oratorio Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan by Joseph Twist at the Adelaide Festival, and Glyndebourne Festival's production of Brett Dean's Hamlet at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Neil directed the same production of Hamlet at Munich's Bayerische Staatsoper in July 2023. For the 2021 Adelaide Festival, Neil directed the Australian premiere of A German Life by Christopher Hampton, starring Robyn Nevin, as well as Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Festival Theatre. Later that year he directed an acclaimed production of Rameau's comic masterpiece Platée for Pinchgut Opera. In addition to his extensive work in Australia, many of Neil's productions have played internationally. These include Cloudstreet (toured to London, Dublin, Zurich, New York), The Diary of a Madman (with Geoffrey Rush, toured to Moscow, St Petersburg, New York), Exit The King (Broadway), The Book of Everything (toured to New York), The Judas Kiss (toured Australia with Bille Brown, London, New York and Toronto with Rupert Everett), The Secret River (adapted by Andrew Bovell, toured to Edinburgh Festival and London) and the world premiere of David Hare's I'm Not Running for National Theatre in London. Neil frequently collaborates with major opera companies, having directed productions at The Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Chicago Lyric Opera, Zurich Opera, Bregenz Festival, Washington National Opera, Opera Australia, Pinchgut, Canadian Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Houston Grand Opera. In addition to classics by Mozart, Britten and Wagner, Neil directed the premieres of Frankie and The Eighth Wonder by Alan John, Whitsunday by Brian Howard, Love Burns by Graeme Koehne and Bliss and Hamlet by Brett Dean. For screen, Neil directed and co-wrote the feature film Candy, starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish, which screened at over twenty international films festivals including In Competition at the Berlinale. Neil was awarded Best Adapted Screenplay at the AFI Awards and an AWGIE for Best Screenplay. Neil's second feature film Holding the Man premiered at Sydney Film Festival in 2015. For television, Neil directed miniseries Edens Lost for ABC (AFI Award Best Director and Best Mini-Series), The Fisherman's Wake (by Andrew Bovell), which won an ATOM Award for Best Original TV Production, and Coral Island (by Nick Enright). Over his distinguished career, Neil has received 2 AFI Awards, 12 Helpmann Awards and several Sydney Theatre, Victorian Green Room and Sydney Theatre Critics Circle Awards. He holds Honorary Doctorates from Adelaide, Sydney and NSW Universities, and in 2007 was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts.

Since 2006, Andrew Moran has been a baritone with Opera Australia in Sydney. When he visited Melbourne as part of a touring production of Puccini's Tosca, Tony spoke to him about a lovely eulogy he delivered for his father, Lawrie Moran, the man who inspired him to sing, in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, on 9 November 2023.  You can read and listen to the eulogy on Speakola.  To support the podcast and the one person operation that is Speakola Become a paid subscriber on Substack - I send one or two newsletters per week. The last few have been about D-Day speeches. Become a member on Patreon  Make a straight credit card donation Other ways to help the podcast are to leave positive reviews on Apple Podcasts, share episodes with friends, and find me a guest! (email is tony@speakola.com)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freddie and Kaspar take over Represent this week while Bridie and Nyah get cultural at Opera Australia's Tosca which they give an overview of at the end of the show (SPOILER ALERT!).  In political news, two elections to talk about on the show today: Rishi Sunak has called a general election for July 4 this year, and your latest update on the USA election in November. And Kaspar brings us the latest on the University of Melbourne's agreement to disclose its partnerships with weapons manufacturers after campus encampments and students occupying the Arts West Building. This week, we also have two interviews! Kaspar caught up with the University of Melbourne's Student Union International President Richard Ha to talk about the Federal Budget's announcement regarding University quotas for international students, the housing crisis, and student life for international students.  And a few weeks ago Nyah, Bridie and Freddie chatted to Shorna Moore, social justice lawyer and advocate at the Melbourne City Mission, about the Home Time Campaign, which aims to fix the housing system in Australia for young people. For more information you can visit www.hometime.org.au. Please let us know what you thought of the show on our socials, @synrepresent on Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads and TikTok.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian musical theatre performer Daniel Assetta is currently based in New York City, where he recently made his Broadway debut in the hot-ticket show, & Juliet. This follows an Off-Broadway debut with The Light in the Piazza for NY City Center Encores! Most recently, Daniel appeared in the Original Australian company of Hamilton as Samuel Seabury and performed Tony in the Opera Australia production of West Side Story across Australia, New Zealand and Germany. His theatre credits include; Al Deluca in the Darlinghurst Theatre Company's A Chorus Line; Elder Young in the original Australian company of The Book of Mormon; The Rum Tum Tugger in the Australian/New Zealand tour of CATS; the 10th Anniversary Australasian tour of Wicked; The Ziegfeld Tenor in Funny Girl; Luke in the world premiere of The Gathering; Follies in Concert ; and Curtains. Daniel is also the proud recipient of the prestigious Rob Guest Endowment Award in Australia. Notable stage appearances include ABC News Breakfast, Carols in The Domain, The ARIA Awards and Michael Mott & Friends concerts.  Over the last couple of years, Daniel produced, co-wrote, choreographed and performed alongside his sister, Chiara, in Siblingship which played to sold-out audiences across Australia and was awarded the winner of 'Best Cabaret' in BroadwayWorld Australia Awards 2020.  As a Choreographer, Daniel has worked extensively with highlights including Squabbalogic's production of NINE the musical, Twisted Broadway at Melbourne's Regent Theatre, the opening of the Sydney Latin Festival and concept pieces for the leading performing arts companies, Ettingshausens Pro & ED5International. Visit www.danielassetta.com and follow @dassetta on Instagram. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Luke Joslin is a graduate of The University of Western Sydney and The Actors College of Theatre and Television, Luke has forged a successful career in both musical theatre and straight drama, as well as being highly sort after as a director.Luke worked as an Actor for 15 years. His extensive credits include the national tour of Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Play That Goes Wrong, both for Lunchbox and Jon Nicholls, Brigadoon for Production Company, Machu Picchu for State Theatre Company of South Australia, Pinnochio for Windmill and Sydney Theatre Company, Threepenny Opera for Malthouse and Sydney Theatre Company, 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables for Michael Cassel and Cameron McIntosh, Annie and Dr Zhivago both for GFO, Avenue Q for Arts Asia, Assassins for Neil Gooding, Dirty Dancing for Jacobsens, Titanic for Seabiscuit and Guys and Dolls for Dennis Smith.In 2009 he won the Helpmann and Greenroom Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Nicky/Trekky in Avenue Q. Luke was also Nominated for a Greenroom Award for Best Male in a Supporting Role in 2018 for Brigadoon.Directorial credits include Annie for Riverside Theatre, Educating Rita for Seymour Centre, Thank You For Being a Friend for Neil Gooding and Matt Henderson, Songs for a New World (Melbourne and Sydney) for Blue Saint and Hayes Theatre, Giggle and Hoot Live show for ABC and Live Nation, In the Heights (Hayes and Sydney Opera House) for Blue Saint and Sydney Opera House in which he was nominated for a Helpmann Award and Sydney Theatre Award for Best Director, Resident Director for Shrek the Musical for GFO, Les Miserables for Packemin Productions and Riverside Theatre, Revival Director – Otello with Opera Australia, Resident Director – Cinderella The Musical for John Frost at XRoads and Opera Australia and Bells are Ringing with Neglected Musicals. Luke also spearheaded the Riverside Theatre Digital Concert series where he conceptualised and directed six shows back to back. Luke most recently was show director for both Jimmy Rees's Not that Kinda Viral Tour and the Swag on the Beat Live Show.He presently helms the exciting new production of Grease which has made its way to Sydney following a triumphant season in Melbourne. And the next stop is Perth. Luke Joslin joined STAGES to reflect on his journey from actor to director; and why Grease is still the word!The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Judith Hoddinott has made considerable impact as an educator and a theatre designer across all disciplines. Training at the University of New England and the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, her design work has been seen complementing a myriad of stages with companies as diverse as the Sydney Theatre Company, GFO, CDP, Jacobsen Entertainment, Playbox, Opera Australia, Performing Lines, Theatre of the Deaf, New Moon, Hunter Valley, STC, Marian Street, & Ensemble theatre companies, and the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.Judith has taught Theatre Design at East Sydney Technical College, University of Western Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and NIDA. She currently teaches at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.Theatrical fare that has soared with costume and/or set designs by Judith include Phedre, Away, Oleanna, Antony and Cleopatra, A Delicate Balance, The Merchant of Venice, Gary's House, After Dinner, The Killing of Sister George, A Hard God, Macbeth, Sight Unseen, Emerald City, Death of a Salesman, The Sunshine Boys, Wit, I Ought to Be In Pictures, Aunty and Me, I'm Not Rappaport, The Heartbreak Kid, and Arms and the Man. Musical Theatre includes Guys and Dolls, A Chair in the Landscape, Shout!, Footloose, Il Trovatore, A Broad With Two Men, Working, Only Heaven Knows, The Man from Mukinupin and South Pacific.Judith offers abundant knowledge on the processes of design, and teaching, in this illuminating episode of the STAGES podcast.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Host Keiren Brandt-Sawdy chats with Artistic Director and Erin Helyard about Theodora. Delve deep into Handel's oratorio and gain insight our performance at the Sydney Opera House in partnership with Opera Australia.

Welcome to Season Five of Countermelody! While I indulge in a much-needed break for the month of January (my first in four years!), I have asked a number of Countermelody fans and listeners to provide spoken introductions to some of their favorite episodes from the first three seasons of the podcast. Today conductor Brian Castles-Onion introduces an episode from June 2020, as we neared the height of the pandemic and the panic surrounding it. It is an interview with Ira Siff, artistic director of La Gran Scena Opera Company di New York, alter ego of the beloved “traumatic soprano” Vera Galupe-Borszkh, lecturer for the Metropolitan Opera Guild and Weekly Commentator on the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. So much has changed for everyone since the interview was recorded in January 2020, most poignantly (as relates to this episode) the death of our beloved Chic Walker (who portrayed Dame Emily Post-Morddum and Alfredo Sorta-Pudgi in La Gran Scena) on 11 April 2022; and the passing of Renata Scotto on 16 August 2023. My association with Ira Siff and La Gran Scena Opera Company di New York goes back more than thirty years, when Ira provided me with my first employment as a professional singer when my alter ego Daniela della Scarpone sang for two years with the renowned travesty opera company. I sat down with Ira in his East Village apartment in January 2020 for a wide-ranging interview in which we discuss his early days as a standee at the old Met (where some of his opera-going experiences included Maria Callas's final Tosca performances, Renata Scotto's 1965 debut as Madama Butterfly, and Leonie Rysanek's wild traversals of Verdi and Wagner). He discusses his first performing experiences in the early 1970s in association with Al Carmines and others, the genesis of La Gran Scena and their development into a worldwide phenomenon, and his subsequent “legitimate” career as lecturer, stage director, vocal coach and voice teacher and commentator all stemmed from in his words, “getting in a dress and singing soprano,” which he dubs “the strangest part.” This is a free-wheeling and extremely Opera Queeny interview, peppered with Ira's unique anecdotes and snippets from Gran Scena (and other!) performances. Today's guest host Brian Castles-Onion is one of Australia's most exciting and well-known opera conductors. Completing his tertiary studies at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, his outstanding achievements speak for themselves. He has worked at New York's Metropolitan Opera, the Julliard School of Music and the Rossini Festival in Italy, and has held the position of Artistic Director of Canterbury Opera in New Zealand. He currently continues his long run association with Opera Australia. His conducting experience includes well over five hundred opera performances throughout Australia, Asia and New Zealand alone. He was on the podium for Opera Australia's 40th Anniversary Gala and 60th Anniversary Gala, The Robert Allman Farewell Gala and conducted the Dame Joan Sutherland State Memorial Service – which was broadcast internationally on television and radio. His book Losing the Plot in Opera has been a Best Seller in Australia and the UK. Brian became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2017 Australia Day Honours List. Today's interviewee and subject, Ira Siff, is a native New Yorker, who grew up on the standing room line of the old Metropolitan Opera, worshiping the famous singers of the 60's. A graduate of the Cooper Union, with a degree in Fine Arts, Mr. Siff began to study voice, and made his debut as a tenor in 1970. For the next decade, he performed roles in opera, operetta and musicals in New York, at The New York Shakespeare Festival, Circle in the Square, Playwrights Horizons, and many other venues. Turning to cabaret, Ira created an act using vocal parody of opera, jazz, and other styles of music, gaining critical acclaim, and a loyal following. In 1981, he founded La Gran Scena Opera Company di New Yor...

Josh Piterman In 2023 Josh Piterman  returned to the stage in London to star as Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Misérables. His West End debut, actually came as he took on the most coveted role as The Phantom in the brilliant original production of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's theatre in 2019, a role he was delighted to reprise in 2022 in the Opera Australia production both at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne. Josh is a superlative musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has been working consistently on Australian and UK stages for more than 15 years. His past credits include being a part of international pop opera group The Ten Tenors, Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story, Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2015/16 Australian season of Cats (a role that won him the Green Room Award for best supporting actor in a Musical), Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray and Gerry Goffin in the 2017/18 Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. The initial, 12 month COVID deferral of the 2021 Phantom of the Opera season allowed Josh to perform at a staggering array of events including; Performance of a Lifetime with the MSO at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the Australia Day Live Concert outside the Sydney Opera House, the National Anthem at the MCG Boxing Day Test, and he wowed audiences with his performance of Music of the Night at The Australian Open Tennis Finals. Josh also performed numerous solo concerts, events and fundraisers in just about every Australian state in that time.Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBkBuzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

The Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner consists of four parts: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung. All four operas will be seen in a new production by Opera Australia at the Queensland Performing Arts Center in Brisbane from December 1st to December 21st. Back then, Wagner not only wrote the text, but also composed the music and gave detailed scenic instructions. Nevertheless, this "Gesamtkunstwerk" still leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The current production is a world first because the stage design consists entirely of digital projections. Behind it is the founder and creative director of the design studio flora&faunavisions in Berlin, Leigh Sachwitz. - Der Ring des Nibelungen ist ein aus vier Teilen bestehender Opernzyklus von Richard Wagner: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried und Götterdämmerung. Alle vier Opern werden ab dem ersten Dezember bis zum 21. Dezember im Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane in eier Neu-Inszenierung der Opera Australia zu sehen sein. Wagner hatte damals nicht nur den Text geschrieben, sondern auch die Musik komponiert und detaillierte szenische Anweisungen vorgegeben. Trotzdem lässt dieses Gesamtkunstwerk noch viel Raum für Interpretationen. Die derzeitige Produktion ist eine Weltneuheit, denn das Bühnenbild besteht ausschliesslich aus digitalen Projektionen. Dahinter steckt die Gründerin und Kreativ-Chefin des Design-Studios flora&faunavisions in Berlin, Leigh Sachwitz.

Opera Australia is staging a new production of Wagner's Ring Cycle at the Queensland Performing Arts Center in Brisbane from December 1 to 21. A 15-hour epic performed over four evenings. Over eighty musicians will be heard in the orchestra, as well as over a hundred voices. One special voice is that of the German tenor Andreas Conrad. His repertoire is impressive and he is a well-known face and voice in the world's great opera houses. - Opera Australia bringt vom 1. bis 21. Dezember eine Neuinszenierung von Wagners Ring des Nibelungen im Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane auf die Bühne. Ein 15-stündiges Epos, das an vier Abenden aufgeführt wird. Ein 15-stündiges Spektakel, in dem Menschen, Göttern, Riesen, Zwergen und Drachen in einem Wirrwarr von Gier und Gewalt der endgültige Untergang droht. Über achtzig Musiker werden im Orchester zu hören sein, sowie über einhundert Stimmen. Eine besondere Stimme daraus ist die des deutschen Tenors Andreas Conrad. Sein Repertoire ist beachtlich und er ist ein bekanntes Gesicht, beziehungsweise eine bekannte Stimme in den grossen Opernhäuser der Welt.

Opera Australia is staging a new production of Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen at the Queensland Performing Arts Center in Brisbane from December 1st to 21st. Over eighty musicians will be heard in the orchestra, as well as over a hundred voices. “Powerful and soulful stage presence” – “Magnificent, lush voice” – “Exciting high notes” – “An enormously talented, young dramatic soprano”. These are just a few reviews of the rich biography of Anna-Louise Cole. She was born in Melbourne. Her musical talent earned her many prizes and took her to the Vienna State Opera, among other places. Anna-Louise Cole will be heard as Brünnhilde in Richard Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen. - Opera Australia bringt vom 1. bis zum 21. Dezember eine Neuinszenierung von Wagners Ring des Nibelungen im Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane auf die Bühne. Über achtzig Musiker werden im Orchester zu hören sein, sowie über einhundert Stimmen. “Kraftvolle und gefühlvolle Bühnenpräsenz“ – „Herrliche, üppige Stimme“ – „Spannende hohe Töne“ – „Eine enorm talentierte, junge dramatische Sopranistin“. Das sind nur ein paar auserlesene Rosinen aus der reichen Biografie von Anna-Louise Cole. Sie ist in Melbourne geboren. Ihr musikalisches Talent brachte ihr viele Preise ein und führte sie unter anderem auch nach Wien in die Staatsoper. Anna-Louise Cole wird als Brünnhilde in Richard Wagners Ring des Nibelungen zu hören sein.

Mozart's The Magic Flute will be presented by Opera Australia during their Summer season in early 2024. At the helm of the production is Director Kate Gaul. An artist of tremendous invention and imagination. The production she conjures will thrill and seduce, as this opera favourite is brought to vivid life. Assisting Kate as Movement Director is frequent collaborator, Andy Dexterity. His eclectic style and command of the physical always delights and sheds enlightening perspective. Both were guests in early seasons of the STAGES podcast. It was a treat to catch up with them once again to hear what's been happening in their worlds and what we can look forward to in the world of The Magic Flute. Kate has been directing full-time since completing the NIDA Director's course in 1996 and has established herself as a distinctive and inventive director, with productions for such companies as Pinchgut Opera, Belvoir St Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Griffin Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company. Kate's productions include The End of Winter, Camp!, Good With Maps, The Trouble with Harry, The Ham Funeral, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Britten), Misterman, Invisible Circus, Il Matrimonio Segreto (Conservatorium of Music), Castor et Pollux (Pinchgut Opera), The New Electric Ballroom and Carmen (OzOpera). Andy Dexterity is a Green Room Award-nominated performance maker primarily recognised for his unique brand of movement, fusing dance, physical theatre and physical languages. Andy is fascinated by the way we communicate and interact as a species and Andy creates playful work with the intention to empower, connect and transcend linguistic boundaries. The Magic Flute plays the Sydney Opera House February 1st to March 16th, 2024The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Anthony Warlow has been thrilling audiences from the moment he arrived on the theatrical scene and has successfully inhabited a diversity of roles in opera and musical theatre, his versatility gaining him an honoured place on the international stage.From his debut with the Australian Opera in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1980, he has left an indelible stamp on the industry both at home and abroad. Anthony's lengthy stage credits include the London National Theatre production of Guys and Dolls, making his music theatre debut with the role of Sky Masterson in 1986, creating the role of Enjolras in the Australian production of Les Misérables (1988), and the title role of the Phantom in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (1990 and 2007-2008). In 1995 he enjoyed a joyous season in Lucy Simon's The Secret Garden as Archie Craven, and collaborated with her again in 2010, creating the role of Dr Yuri Zhivago in the Australian premiere production of Doctor Zhivago: The Musical. Other highlights include Australian tours of Annie (2000 and 2012), seasons with Opera Australia and a critically acclaimed performance as Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof in 2016.Anthony made his Broadway debut in 2013, portraying the iconic role of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in the 35th Anniversary production of Annie, directed by James Lapine. His performance won him several Broadway nominations (Drama Desk, Drama League, People's Choice), and in 2015 he was invited to return to the US to perform the dual roles of Miguel De Cervantes/ Don Quixote in The Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington production of Man of La Mancha. This portrayal won him the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. The same year he replaced Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland, playing the roles of Charles Frohman/ Captain Hook.Anthony made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2013 but is no stranger to the concert platform, performing around Australia with our Symphony Orchestras. His studio recordings have spanned more than 20 years and include solo albums, cast recordings and live performances in concert and with Opera Australia. His love of “flawed anti-heroes” continued with his portrayal of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His performance was hailed by critics and was a welcome addition to his theatrical canon.Anthony has been honoured by the nation receiving the title of Living National Treasure, and his outstanding achievements acknowledged with his investiture as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to the performing arts. He is married to Amanda and divides his time and career between Australia's capital cities and New York.Anthony Warlow is back on the boards and will step into the shoes of the cunning and charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn in audience favourite; CHICAGO. The musical opens in Perth on November 21st, prior to a national tour.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

From homeless teen to operatic stardom: how a job at the David Jones food hall changed the trajectory of Stephen Smith's life

Public speaking and the spoken word are one of humankind's earliest forms of art. It thrived before written languages, and remains rooted in the oral traditions of many cultures today. Speeches often define moments in history--George Washington's farewell address, Martin Luther King's speech to the March on Washington, for instance. In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy spoke at the City Club of the "mindless menace of violence" the day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated--a speech that still resonates today. Even in an era of emoji, texting, and AI, the art and exercise of the spoken word remains critical. It is the speech, the word verbalized that provokes thought, sparks debate, and wins arguments.rnrnIn early 2023, Craig Hassall became President and CEO of Playhouse Square. Prior to coming to Cleveland, Hassal was a mainstay in the international theater community, with decades of experience operating and curating major venues in Europe and Australia, including Opera Australia, the English National Ballet, and most recently serving as CEO of London's Royal Albert Music Hall.

The Sydney Opera House turns 50 this month. Gennadi Dubinsky, a singer of the Opera Australia, shared his fond memories related to this Australian icon. - Сиднейскому оперному театру исполняется 50 лет. Интервью с певцом австралийской оперы “Opera Australia” Геннадием Дубинским.

Rencontre avec Philippe Auguin qui va diriger le Ring Cycle de Wagner pour Opera Australia. Le Ring Cycle comprend plus de 15 heures de musique réparties sur quatre productions et est donc rarement interprété comme un cycle complet. Opera Australia en interprète trois cycles cette saison. Philippe Auguin dirigera le Queensland Symphony Orchestra pour ces oeuvres de Wagner du 1er au 21 décembre.

Chatting With Sherri welcomes actor, singer, director, writer and artistic director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia; Mitchell Butel! Mitchell holds four Helpmann Awards, four Sydney Theatre Awards and two Victorian Green Room Awards for his work as a director, actor and writer in Australian theatre over three decades. He has also worked in New York, London, Hong Kong and New Zealand. He has worked extensively for Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre, State Theatre Company South Australia, Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin, Malthouse, Opera Australia, Sydney Chamber Opera, Pinchgut Opera,  Most recently, Mitchell directed Giovanni Busenello's The Loves of Apollo and Dafne for Pinchgut Opera and the sold-out season of Dennis Kelly's Girls & Boys for State Theatre Company South Australia during the Adelaide Festival (and its tour to Sydney Festival and Theatre Royal, Hobart). For the Company, Mitchell has also directed Edward Albee's The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?, David Lindsay-Abaire's Ripcord,  His performing highlights in theatre, music theatre and opera include A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Merchant of Venice (as Shylock for which he won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Actor), Mr Burns (Helpmann Award Best Supporting Actor), South Pacific,Angels in America. His film and TV highlights include A Sunburnt Christmas, Stateless, Dance Academy, Holding the Man, Gettin' Square (AFI nomination), The Bank, Strange Fits of Passion (AFI nomination),

Shannon grew up in the Central Queensland town of Gladstone which is where her love of dance began. At the age of 15 she moved to Brisbane where she studied ballet full time at Queensland Dance School of Excellence before completing a Diploma of Performing Arts at ED5 International in Sydney. She has since obtained a diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction through PITC. A versatile performer, Shannon has had the privilege of working with many of Australia's leading choreographers including Kelley Abbey, The Squared Division, William Forsythe, Keith Hawley, Matt Lee, Leanne Cherny, Marko Panzic, Jason Coleman, Sarah Boulter and Stephen Baynes. Stage credits include Fame the Musical (Australian tour), Grease the Musical (Australian tour), previous Opera Australia productions including La Traviata and Carmen on Sydney Harbour, Le Gand Cirque, Ben Veitch's production of Blood, Swart and Dance and the Shorter, Sweeter Dance tour.Shannon has made regular television appearances on The X Factor, The Voice, Australian Idol, Australia's Next Top Model and more. She has worked with both Australian and International artists including Ricky Martin, Jessica Mauboy, Ricki Lee, Red Foo and Sneaky Sound System. She has also appeared in films and music videos and performed at countless events including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.Since the birth of her two gorgeous children, Shannon has begun to focus more on the choreographic and creative side of the industry. She has choreographed for a number of award ceremonies and events.Crystalized Costumes Adrenaline Dance Competition Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

 At the age of 15 Shannon Burns moved to Brisbane where she studied ballet full time at Queensland Dance School of Excellence before completing a Diploma of Performing Arts at ED5 International in Sydney. A versatile performer, Shannon has had the privilege of working with many of Australia's leading choreographers including Kelley Abbey, The Squared Division, William Forsythe, Keith Hawley, Matt Lee, Leanne Cherny, Marko Panzic, Jason Coleman, Sarah Boulter and Stephen Baynes. Stage credits include Fame the Musical (Australian tour), Grease the Musical (Australian tour), previous Opera Australia productions including La Traviata and Carmen on Sydney Harbour, Le Gand Cirque, Ben Veitch's production of Blood, Swart and Dance and the Shorter, Sweeter Dance tour.Join Charlie as she asks the hard questions in this performer profile.Find out all the things you have always wanted to know about your favourite performers, but never had the chance to ask.https://www.shanburns.com.au/

Roberto Scandiuzzi in questi giorni è impegnato con Opera Australia nell'Aida di Verdi, in scena all'Opera House di Sydney.

Damiano Michieletto, per i suoi geniali allestimenti, è uno dei più ricercati registi del momento ed è a Sydney per la produzione di Opera Australia de "I racconti di Hoffmann" di Offenbach.

Interview with Australian Armenian soprano Natalie Aroyan about her career, Opera Australia's new production of Aida and her leading role (8 – 21 July) at the Sydney Opera House and later in the year in Queensland. - Հարցազրոյց Աւստրալահայ սոփրանօ Նաթալի Արոյեանի հետ։

Some of the world's most famous operas - written in the 18th and 19th centuries - have been criticised as celebrating misogyny or upholding racist stereotypes. As Verdi's masterpiece ‘Rigoletto' opens at the Sydney Opera House, SBS spoke to Opera Australia about whether historical works should be reframed and updated for a modern-day audience.

El tenor brasileño Atalla Ayan es reconocido como uno de los tenores más solicitados de su generación, habiendo actuado en teatros tan importantes como la Royal Opera House, Opéra Nacional de París, Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, San Francisco Opera, Teatro Colón, Opera Australia y muchos otros.

Opera Australia presenta su gran producción Madama Butterfly, en el emblemático puerto de Sídney, que se inauguró el viernes 24 de marzo y se representará hasta el 23 de abril bajo la dirección artística de la española Susana Gómez.