Tosca Review by Susie Conte 28.3.2017 In West Australian Opera’s 50th anniversary year, Tosca is a triumph to open their mainstage season. A tale of passion, sacrifice and betrayal, it is used to tell the story of real people experiencing real life, to express ‘great griefs in small souls.’ Stuart Maunder, director of this production and General Director of New Zealand Opera, returns to Perth where he has directed for the West Australian Opera before, including Tosca. His familiarity and respect for the opera shines through. Tosca (Antoinette Halloran) is a renowned prima donna, her hero Cavaradossi (Paul O’Neill) is … Continue reading REVIEW: Tosca | WA Opera

  The Pearl Fishers Review by Cicely Binford 25.10.16 Director Michael Gow‘s The Pearl Fishers has made its way out west as the final production of WA Opera‘s 2016 season. Set in 19th century Ceylon, Gow’s Fishers is brought forward from the rather vague ‘ancient times’ era where it was originally set, and the main male characters are European rather than native Sri Lankan. Gow thereby attempts to paint this story with a different brush; ultimately the shift isn’t revolutionary, but it doesn’t do the story any harm either. As the overture begins, the Maj’s red velvet curtain gets a temporary deep purple … Continue reading REVIEW: The Pearl Fishers | WA Opera

Simon Phillips‘ Aussie-fied adaptation of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore has finally made its way out West to His Majesty’s Theatre with WA Opera. It’s a bright, cheerful affair that had audiences laughing at the Ocker surtitles, the corrugated-tin sight gags, and the naughty antics of the cast. It’s a treat for all the senses, not least of all the ears, with some beautiful sounds from both the stage and the orchestra pit, filled by WASO under the baton of Stuart Stratford. Upon first sight of the set and costumes, if you thought you’d found yourself at a production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, I don’t … Continue reading REVIEW: The Elixir of Love | WA Opera