Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Opera Australia invites Australians nationwide to The Merry Widow

Opera Australia is thrilled to be back at the Sydney Opera House, opening its summer season with The Merry Widow from January 5-16, 2021.

With Australians holidaying at home this summer, visitors to Sydney, now more than ever, are encouraged to tick off ‘seeing an opera in the Opera House’ from their ‘must-do’ list.

The perfect show for first time opera-goers, The Merry Widow is performed in English and is a feast for the senses, with its sumptuous art deco era costumes, stunning geometrics sets and high energy dance numbers. Check out the trailer here.

More than nine months since its last performance, Opera Australia is thrilled to be back at the Sydney Opera House, opening on January 5 with Lehár’s uplifting The Merry Widow.

In this magnificently opulent production, all the glitz and glamour of art deco France comes alive thanks to the creative dream team of director/choreographer Graeme Murphy, set designer Michael Scott-Mitchell and costume designer Jennifer Irwin. Their vision combines spirited choreography with lavish costumes and stunning sets, creating a show to be enjoyed by all.

Following their acclaimed performances in West Side Story on Sydney Harbour last year, two of the country’s finest performers, Julie Lea Goodwin and Alexander Lewis will lead an all-Australian cast in this dance-packed show.

The pair will reunite on the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage to play former lovers Hanna Glavari and Danilo Danilovich in this entertaining tale of a newly wealthy widow who is suddenly the hottest catch in town.

Performing alongside the duo will be David Whitney as the comic Baron Mirko Zeta and soaring soprano Stacey Alleaume as Valencienne. Joining them on stage will be an ensemble of celebrated local talent including Jane Ede, Luke Gabbedy, Richard Anderson, Benjamin Rasheed and Angela Hogan.

Conductor Brian Castles-Onion will lead the Opera Australia Orchestra and Opera Australia Chorus in their performance of Lehár’s fantastic music.

With magnificent sets, brilliant choreography and fabulous costumes The Merry Widow is the perfect start to 2021.

“The Merry Widow is light-hearted entertainment at its best. Shining through the glitz and glamour, remarkably authentic performances from the leading duo tell a sincere story of the desire to be loved for who you are, not for what you have.” - The Age

The Merry Widow

Creatives

Conductor Brian Castles-Onion(Evenings),

Paul Fitzsimon (Matinees)

Director & Choreographer Graeme Murphy AO

Creative Associate Janet Vernon AM

Revival Director & Choreographer Shane Placentino

English Translation by Justin Fleming

Set Designer Michael Scott-Mitchell

Costume Designer Jennifer Irwin

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Sound Designer Tony David Cray

 

Cast

Hanna Glavari Julie Lea Goodwin

Danilo Danilovich Alexander Lewis

Baron Mirko Zeta David Whitney

Valencienne Stacey Alleaume

Camille de Rosillon Virgilio Marino

Njegus Benjamin Rasheed

Alexis Kromov Richard Anderson

Dominik Bogdanovich Andrew Moran

Sylviane Jane Ede

Raoul de St. Brioche Bradley Cooper

Viscount Nicolas Cascada Luke Gabbedy

Olga Kromov Angela Hogan

Konrad Pritschich Tom Hamilton

Praskovia Dominica Matthews

 

Opera Australia Chorus

Opera Australia Orchestra


Performance information

Evenings at 7.30pm
January 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Saturday Matinees at 12.30pm
January 9, 16

 

Running time
Approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes
including two intervals

 

Performed in English

 

Please note this performance contains flashing light effects

 

Bookings

Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)

 

Opera Australia Box Office 
(02) 9318 8200 
www.opera.org.au

 

Joan Sutherland Theatre, 
Sydney Opera House


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