CALVIN BOWMAN & ANNA GOLDSWORTHY
THE MAGIC
PUDDING THE OPERA
October - November 2013
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’s MESSAGE RICHARD MILLS
Victorian Opera
CHAPTER TWO 2014 Season packages now available La traviata Hansel and Gretel Into the Woods Norma The Riders The Play of Herod
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‘...such a classic and its mixture of fantasy, zany humour and gentle irony makes it an ideal base for a new opera for the young...’ Richard Mills
A great classic lends itself to transformation and adaptions to new forms: The Magic Pudding is such a classic and its mixture of fantasy, zany humour and gentle irony makes it an ideal base for a new opera for the young and young at heart performed by a talented and engaging young cast. The work also takes its place in the special company mission of Victorian Opera: to create work for and with regional communities which enables the joy of discovery and participation at a genuine level of artistic value – via an expertly composed work realised with dedication and enthusiasm by a committed young cast. The Magic Pudding – the opera marks the beginning of a program of enabling the regional communities to join in song under the guidance and encouragement of all at Victorian Opera. Composer Calvin Bowman - a songwriter of rare abilities has found his inspiration in the charming libretto by Anna Goldsworthy which has so deftly captured the essence of the flow and energy of Norman Lindsay’s timeless Australian fairy tale. Bringing the wonderful world of The Magic Pudding to life is made possible through generous support by Victorian Youth Opera Patron Miss Betty Amsden OAM, Victorian Opera Education Syndicate and Victorian Opera New Work Syndicate. Particular mention must also be made of The Robert Salzer Foundation for underpinning Victorian Opera’s annual commissioning program, and Arts Victoria and the John T Reid Charitable Trusts for their support in delivering The Magic Pudding – the opera to the regional communities of Victoria. This new opera will, I am sure, win a place in the popular imagination that will endure beyond its first season. Welcome and enjoy. Richard Mills Artistic Director
CALVIN BOWMAN
COMPOSER’S MESSAGE ‘I am inspired by not only the creative medium of opera, but also by the many talented people who each play a distinctive part...’ Calvin Bowman
I feel humbled and privileged to have been asked to write a work based on Norman Lindsay’s The Magic Pudding. I am inspired by not only the creative medium of opera, but also by the many talented people who each play a distinctive part in bringing the score to life. Although a cast of thousands might easily be acknowledged through the very nature and mechanics of staging a work such as this, I would like to mention three people in this short space who’ve been indispensable in its production. Oscar Bowman inspires and amazes me. This work is for him. Anna Goldsworthy possesses a rare combination of musical and literary talent which produced the outstanding libretto. And Richard Mills continues to believe in me. And I thank all of them. Calvin Bowman Composer
LIBRETTIST’s MESSAGE
Anna Goldsworthy
CALVIN BOWMAN & ANNA GOLDSWORTHY World Premiere 4 October 2013, Melbourne 4 - 6 October 2013 Merlyn, The Coopers Malthouse, Melbourne 22 October 2013 The Cube Wodonga, Wodonga 25 October 2013 Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura 29 October 2013 Westside PAC, Shepparton 7 November 2013 Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat 12 November 2013 West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Composer Calvin Bowman Librettist Anna Goldsworthy Based on the book The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay.
ANNA GOLDSWORTHY
‘...packed with lovable rogues and the exact right dose of magic.’
THE MAGIC PUDDING - THE OPERA
Several years ago, my trio commissioned a series of variations from a number of Australian composers on a Schubert waltz, including Calvin Bowman. We rehearsed his variation rather more than was necessary, simply to bask in its gorgeousness. Sometime later, Calvin and I discussed collaborating on a musical; when Victorian Opera approached us to create a children’s opera it seemed we had wished this project into being. We met up one afternoon to trade the names of our children’s favourite books. When Calvin suggested The Magic Pudding, it had the air of revelation – and enchantment – of that moment he has created in the opera: ‘Shall I tell him? It’s a Magic Pudding!’ Norman Lindsay’s classic text might have been designed for a children’s opera. It is a song in itself, packed with lovable rogues and the exact right dose of magic. It also offers a boisterous physical comedy that is made for the stage. Working with Calvin Bowman gave me all the melodic thrills I’d hoped for; workshopping our ideas with the encyclopaedic Richard Mills was a privilege. The book’s look is as iconic as its story, something that director Cameron Menzies and designer Chloe Greaves understood immediately. Above all, The Magic Pudding celebrates conviviality, which has been my experience of this project, not least thanks to the young voices of Victorian Opera. Hurrah, hurrah, hurroo for puddin’ owners true! Anna Goldsworthy Librettist
Running time approximately 1 hour. The Magic Pudding - the opera is presented with kind permission of the copyright holders: H.C. & A. Glad. Image: © H.C. & A. Glad, 1918, from The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay. Published by HarperCollins Publishers Australia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With thanks to: Harrison Cope, Daniel Gosling, Just Imagine Productions, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Props Hire, Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Trevour Poultney, RC4 Wireless, Resolution X, Scenic Studios, Tilda Somers, Wick Lighting. Supported by: The Victorian Government through Arts Victoria Victorian Opera Youth Opera Patron Miss Betty Amsden OAM Victorian Opera Education Syndicate Victorian Opera New Work Syndicate The Robert Salzer Foundation JT Reid Charitable Trusts Foundation
Conductor Director Set & Costume Designer Lighting Designer Puppetry Consultant Puppet Construction Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Head Mechanist Repetiteurs
Daniel Carter Cameron Menzies Chloe Greaves Peter Darby Lynne Kent Vanessa Ellis Jessica Smithett Rebecca Gibbs Jim Henry Phoebe Briggs Phillipa Safey
CAST (in order of appearance) Narrator Bunyip Bluegum Bill Barnacle Sam Sawnoff Pudding Watkin Wombat/Rooster Possum Judge Constable/ Henderson Hedgehog Benjamin Brandysnap
Kirilie Blythman Nathan Lay Timothy Reynolds Daniel Todd Jeremy Kleeman Olivia Cranwell Christine Heald Carlos E. Bárcenas Tobias Glaser Lotte Betts-Dean
ORCHESTRA Concertmaster 2nd Violin Viola Cello Cello Double Bass Flute Clarinet Bassoon Trumpet Percussion Piano
Jennen Ngiau-Keng Miranda Matheson Nelson Yarwood Jarrad Mathie (Melbourne, Shepparton, Ballarat) Virginia Kable (Wodonga, Mildura, Warragul) Chloe Smith Dominique Chaseling Julia Stoppa Matthew Kneale Benjamin Harrison Peter Farmer Phoebe Briggs Phillipa Safey
THE MAGIC PUDDING - THE OPERA CHORUS The Magic Pudding – the opera chorus provides a unique opportunity for a group of local young singers to come together to form the chorus and perform with Victorian Opera professional artists.
SYNOPSIS THE MAGIC PUDDING - THE OPERA Slice One Mr Bunyip Bluegum, a koala, follows the scent of pudding until he comes across Bill Barnacle, the sailor, Sam Sawnoff, the penguin and Albert the ‘cut-and-come again’ Pudding. Albert is a Magic Pudding, as the more pudding you eat the more you get. He is, however, a very grumpy fellow. Bill and Sam invite Bunyip to join them for lunch and to partake of pudding in the open air. After their meal Bill sings of how they met Albert, when Watkin Wombat and Possum, The Puddin’ Thieves, appear. Sam punches Possum and knocks Wombat to the ground. The Pudding Thieves scurry off without stealing the pudding. Albert sings of how terrible his life is stuck as a pudding in a pot. Bill and Sam ask Bunyip to join them as Puddin’ Owners. Slice Two Wombat and Possum have started a fire to cause a huge distraction. They enter dressed as firemen with a long fire hose to put out the fire. While everyone is terribly distracted Wombat makes off with Albert. The three distraught Puddin’ Owners set off in search of the thieves. First they come across Henderson the Hedgehog who is a trifle deaf. They then come across Rooster who says he saw a Possum running towards Watkin Wombat’s Summer Residence. Bill, Sam and Bunyip arrive at the Summer Residence. Bunyip pretends to be a door-to-door seller of Pootle’s Patent Pudding Enlarger. Wombat and Possum fall for the trick and the Puddin’ Owners are able to snatch back Albert. Slice Three The following morning Wombat and Possum tell the Puddin’ Owners they are surrendering, and that they have brought a present for them in a bran bag. In a quick trick the Puddin’ Thieves put the bran bag over all of their heads and run away with Albert. Bill, Sam and Bunyip struggle to get out of the bag. Luckily a dog called Benjamin Brandysnap arrives and lets them out.
As they are about to set off on their search, Bunyip thinks of a great plan. They will say there is an Official Grand Procession of the Society of Pud to lure out the Puddin’ Thieves. When the thieves arrive at the Procession, it’s clear Wombat has Albert hidden under his hat. Bunyip starts singing the national Anthem, God Save the King, expecting that out of respect Wombat will have to remove his hat. Bill and Wombat get into fisticuffs and the pudding falls off Wombat’s head. Again the Puddin’ Thieves have been thwarted. Slice Four As a gang of four, Bill, Sam, Bunyip and Benjamin arrive at Tooraloo, a sausage shaped place where there’s nothing much to do. Wombat and Possum disguised as respectable townsfolk accuse the Puddin’ Owners of stealing their pudding. They make a big commotion and the police arrive. Albert insults the policeman and then pinches him. The policeman has no option but to arrest Albert on the grounds of Puddin’ Assault. In Tooraloo court, Wombat and Possum are in the dock accused of Puddin’ stealing, while Bill acts as the prosecuting lawyer. He calls upon Benjamin Brandysnap and Sam Sawnoff to give evidence. Albert objects to the evidence and tries to start a fight. Bunyip distracts them by announcing Albert has been poisoned, and the Judge – who has eaten seven slices – has been poisoned seven times. This causes chaos in the courtroom and everyone runs out. The Puddin’ Thieves run away and the Puddin’ Owners have Albert back. Albert still believes he has been poisoned and they tell him it was all a joke. The Puddin’ Owners decide that the only way to keep Albert safe from the Puddin’ Thieves is to live in a tree house and give Albert his own little paddock to run around in. Bill, Sam, Bunyip, Benjamin and Albert all live happily together. © Cameron Menzies
Engelbert Humperdinck
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BIOGRAPHIES
CREATIVE & CAST
BIOGRAPHIES
CREATIVE & CAST CoMPOSER Calvin Bowman
LIBRETTIST Anna Goldsworthy
CONDUCTOR Daniel Carter
DIRECTOR Cameron Menzies
Calvin Bowman is currently Head of Composition and University Organist at the Australian National University, Canberra. He is a graduate of The University of Melbourne, and was the first Australian to graduate with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Yale University with the assistance of a Fulbright scholarship, the inaugural Anthony Joseph Pratt Award for the Visual and Performing Arts. He is a member of Australian Mensa and a life member of the Australian Fulbright Association.
Anna Goldsworthy is a classical pianist and writer. She has performed extensively throughout Australia and internationally, with highlights including solo appearances at the Teatro Colon for the Buenos Aires International Music Festival, for the Orchestra of Colours in Athens, at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, and in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Masters Series. She has published two memoirs, Piano Lessons and Welcome to Your New Life, and is the author of the Quarterly Essay Unfinished Business.
Background: B.Mus(Hons.) University of Melbourne, studying Composition and Piano. Victorian Opera Developing Artist 2010-2011. Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Conductors 2012. Symphony International Podium Scholarship. Symphony Australia Core Conductors Program 2009-2012 working with orchestras in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Auckland. As the 2012 recipient of the Susan Harley Living Bequest, Daniel spent a period of May 2012 in New York to study What Next? with its composer Elliott Carter in preparation for his debut conducting the Australian Premiere of the work. Daniel will be joining the music staff of the Hamburgische Staatsoper in December 2013 as a Repetiteur and Assistant Conductor.
Background: Cameron is a Green Room Nominated Director and is the recipient of the 2011 Berlin New Music Opera Award from Opera Foundation Australia and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauch Dienst, the 2008 Bayreuth Opera Award from The Opera Foundation Australia; The Besen Family Artist Program (Direction), Malthouse Theatre and currently holds the position of Artistic Director for Opera in the Park for City of Stonnington and Head of Direction at the Opera Studio Melbourne. Creative director of OPERETTE for the L’Oreal Fashion Festival 2012 -2013.
Dr Bowman has presented the complete Bach organ works twice including once in a single seventeen hour sitting for the Melbourne International Festival, for which he was nominated for a Helpmann Award for “Best Individual Classical Music Performance”. He has premièred major keyboard works by Philip Glass, Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards, Graeme Koehne, Richard Mills and Andrew Schultz, and appeared as keyboard soloist with many Australian orchestras including Orchestra Victoria, and the Melbourne, Adelaide, West Australian and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. As a composer, Dr Bowman has been awarded an Australia Council Fellowship and been commissioned by Ars Musica Australis, Symphony Australia, and more. His works have been conducted and performed by musicians such as Sir Neville Marriner, Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Brad Cohen, Emma Matthews, Jacqueline Porter, Greta Bradman and Sara Macliver, recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and ABC Classics, and played by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and the Tasmanian and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. Recent commissions include works for The Tallis Scholars, the Flinders Quartet, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Anna is a founding member of Seraphim Trio, and is currently Artistic Director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, cultural critic for The Monthly, Kenneth Moore Memorial Music Scholar at Janet Clarke Hall, and Research Fellow at the J.M. Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice at the University of Adelaide. In 2013, Anna tours Australia extensively in concert with Seraphim Trio, as soloist for Musica Viva Countrywide, and with the stage adaptation of her bestselling memoir, Piano Lessons. She records for the ABC Classics label.
Victorian Opera: Conductor: Master Peter’s Puppet Show/What Next? (Australian Premiere), Puss in Boots (El Gato con Botas), The Parrot Factory (World Premiere), Education Performances of La Cenerentola, Magic Flute and Hansel and Gretel, NOVA Workshops 2010 and 2012. Assistant Conductor for over 12 productions including Nixon in China, The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, Bluebeard’s Castle, Carmina Burana, Julius Caesar and La Damnation de Faust. Other Companies: Aida, Cosí fan tutte (Opera Australia Assistant Conductor), Don Giovanni (Opera Australia OzOpera Conductor), The Threepenny Opera (Sydney Theatre Company/Victorian Opera Conductor), Pierrot Lunaire (Melbourne Festival Conductor), Requiem (Australian Ballet/Victorian Opera Chorusmaster), Assembly (Sydney Festival), Education Concerts and Playerlink Conductor (Sydney Symphony), Carnival of the Animals, The Night Garden (Melbourne Recital Centre Conductor), Willoughby Symphony and MYM.
Victorian Opera: Puss in Boots (El Gato con Botas) and La Cenerentola (Education Program), The Threepenny Opera, co-production with Malthouse Theatre, Hansel and Gretel and The Magic Flute. Other Companies: La traviata – Opera in the Park, 2013, CONTACT! – A Netball Opera (Arts Centre Melbourne), The Magic Flute (OZopera, Opera Australia), Il Trovatore, I Capuleti e I Montecchi (Opera Australia), Eugene Onegin, Don Giovanni, The Juniper Tree, The Old Maid and the Thief (The Opera Studio Melbourne), Tannhäuser (Deutsche Oper, Berlin). Recordings: Opera Therapy – Documentary SBS Television – Winner of the Silver Plaque at the Chicago International Film Festival, 2006.
CREATIVE & CAST
CREATIVE & CAST
BIOGRAPHIES
BIOGRAPHIES SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Chloe Greaves
LIGHTING DESIGNER Peter Darby
Judge Carlos E. Bárcenas
BENJAMIN BRANDYSNAP Lotte Betts-Dean
Background: Chloe Greaves is a costume designer and maker working predominantly in the film and theatre arena in Melbourne. She is a 2008 graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts’ School of Production, and upon graduating was the recipient of the Orloff Family Trust Scholarship. In 2008 Chloe received the PROWD award for best theatrical design for The Sound of Wire, and has been nominated for Greenroom awards for her costume design on The Fate of Franklin and his Gallant Crew in 2010 and The Pineapple Sorrows in 2012.
Background: Peter is a graduate of the VCA School of Production during which time he studied under John Comeadow. Since graduating Peter has worked extensively with Victorian Opera in the role of Head Electrician & Technical Coordinator on more than 30 productions. During this time he has had extensive experience under the guidance of acclaimed lighting designers including Paul Jackson, Matt Scott, Nigel Levings, Phil Lethlean, Damien Cooper and Richard Vabre.
Background: Born in Colombia. Bachelor degree in Marine Biology. Bachelor of Music Performance (University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music). Awarded the Keith G Chapman Memorial Scholarship and the Sleath Lowrey Award in 2010. Currently in his final year of the Masters in Music (Opera Performance) at the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music.
Background: Born and raised in Berlin, Lotte BettsDean is a regular soloist for several ensembles and festivals. Lotte feels at home in a wide variety of repertoire encompassing art song recital, chamber music, oratorio, new music, early music and opera. She completed her BMus at Melbourne University in 2012 under the tutelage of Anna Connolly.
Victorian Opera: Chloe was Costume Design Assistant under Anna Cordingley for the Victorian Opera and Malthouse Theatre co-production The Threepenny Opera. Costume Manager: The Happy Prince. Other Companies: Costume design for theatre: Le Donna Curiose (The Julliard School New York); Cinderella, Ongin, The Juniper Tree (The Opera Studio); On the bodily education of young girls (Fraught Outfit); The Economist, Triangle, Hose and J.A.T.O (MKA – Theatre of New Writing); Contact (Arts Centre Melbourne) The Fate of Franklin and his gallent crew, The Master and Margareta and Alice in Wonderland (Fourlarks Theatre). Costume Design Assistant for Theatre; Moonshadow (designed by Harriet Oxley) Baal (Designed by Mel Page) for Malthouse Theatre. Design for film includes: The Stranger (VCA Honors - Melbourne international film festival Accelerator program); cophard.tv (noise and light – Fantastic Fest); and music videos Wild things (San Cisco), Gold (Guy Sebastian), Shame (All the Colours), No Matter What You Say (Imperial Teen), Waking Up The Same (Cosmo Black).
Victorian Opera: Lighting design credits include: The Play of Daniel, 2011 Regional Tour Gala Performances, Brundibár, The Cockatoos, The Little Sweep. Assistant Lighting Designer: Ariadne auf Naxos, Xerxes. Other Companies: Lighting Designer - Waiting for Godot, The Logue of Thomas P.T. Lawrence (What Just Happened Productions); A Gala Night at the Opera (MBEC); Not Quite Right In The Head, A Fine Bromance (Bad Boys of Music Theatre). Assistant Lighting Designer – The God of Carnage (MTC). He has also worked with The Deaf Arts Network and Phunktional in the creation of a new dance work The Sound of Silence as well as working on Shane Warne: The Musical. Peter is a committee member for the Australasian Lighting Industry Association.
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, Chorus: Maria de Buenos Aires, Miller: Puss in Boots, Soloist in Victorian Opera Gala Concert 2013, Soloist in Victorian Opera Gala Concert 2012, Master Peter in Master Peter’s Puppet Show by Manuel De Falla in 2012, Cover of Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart in 2012, In The Beginning Was The Word part of Malthouse Theatre’s Opera XS. Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola for Education Program, Moomba Opening Night Concert and Master of Music (Opera Performance) Student Recital. Member of the Victorian Opera Chorus since 2008, and in 2011 was part of regional concert, Sing Your Own Opera - From Opera to Broadway touring around Victoria. Other Companies: King Alexander, in Il Re Pastore with Melbourne Lyric Opera (2008) and Don Jose in Carmen with In Opera in Good Company (2010). Michael in Deborah Cheetham’s new opera Pecan Summer with Short Black Opera (2010 & 2011). Sigmund & Siegfried in MTO’s production of THE RING - Wagner Animated conducted and arranged by David Kram.
Victorian Opera: Chorus: 2013 Gala Concert, Princess Aurora: Sleeping Beauty, Soloist (Der Rosenkavalier): 2012 Gala Concert, El Trujaman: Master Peter's Puppet Show, Queen Belshazzar: The Play of Daniel, Soloist: Hallelujah, It's Christmas!, Chorus: Assembly. Other Companies: Venus: Venus and Adonis, Polly Peachum: The Threepenny Opera, The Counselor: The Play of Daniel, Clio: Razing Hypatia, Stephanie: Nine. Concert Repertoire: Elgar The Music Makers, Bach Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat, Cantatas 84 & 199, Mozart Coronation Mass & Requiem, Haydn Paukenmesse, Stabat Mater & Harmoniemesse, Handel Messiah, Saint Saens Oratorio De Noel, De Falla El Sombrero de tres picos, Berio Folksongs, Stravinsky Pribaoutki & The Soldier's Tale, Stanhope Songs for the Shadowlands. Recordings: La Compania The Spanish Collection (2013), Greenbaum Four Finalities (2013), Soundtrack to Ficino Films' The Firebird (2012), Gondwana Voices Dreamings (2006). Lotte has also performed in a number of live to air broadcasts for ABC Classic FM and 3MBS FM.
CREATIVE & CAST
CREATIVE & CAST
BIOGRAPHIES
BIOGRAPHIES
NARRATOR Kirilie Blythman
WATKIN WOMBAT/ROOSTER Olivia Cranwell
CONSTABLE/HENDERSON HEDGEHOG Tobias Glaser
POSSUM Christine Heald
Background: Bachelor of Music Performance, (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne) in 2011. Recipient of the 2011 Walter Kirby Singing Scholarship and the Athenaeum Competition vocal prize. Completing a Master of Music (Opera Performance), Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne.
Background: Bachelor of Music Performance (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne). Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne. Graduate of Young Actor’s Studio, NIDA. Lisa Gasteen Opera Summer School 2011. Finalist, Herald Sun Aria 2011: Semi-finalist, IFAC Australian Singing Competition 2011: Winner, South Eastern Arts Festival Aria 2011: Third place, National Liederfest 2011.
Background: Tobias Glaser studied a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in German and Music History with a Diploma of Modern Languages in French. He has sung with many of Melbourne’s best loved ensembles including The Choir of Newman College, the Bach Cantata Project and St John’s Southgate, Lyric Opera of Melbourne, Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus and with Victorian Opera both in the Youth Opera program and main stage performances as both a soloist and chorus member. He has spent extensive periods in Berlin studying singing with renowned Heldentenor Reiner Goldberg. He is also a cantor soloist at several synagogues around Melbourne and has a strong passion for Jewish liturgical music.
Background: Christine was born on the NSW South Coast. Diploma of Music Industry Business (Canberra Institute of Technology) 2007, Bachelor of Music (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music) 2011. Recipient of the 2010 Walter Kirby Scholarship. Currently in the final year of the Masters of Music - Opera Performance (Melbourne Conservatorium and Victorian Opera).
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, A young man/A photographer: Sunday in the Park with George. Princess: Puss in Boots, Chorus in Nixon in China, Soloist: Opera on a White Night Gala Concert, 2012 Gala Concert, Opera by Twilight (RACV Healesville Country Club), Musical Lunchtime (Victorian Opera Christmas recital), Master of Music (Opera Performance) Work in Progress, Sing Your Own Opera, Thisbe in La Cenerentola for Education Program, Moomba Opening Night Concert and Master of Music (Opera Performance) student recital. Other Companies: Soloist in Family Classic Kids 3 SING (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) Ceclia: Bohemios, Cantaora: La Verbena de la Paloma, Helen: La Belle Helene (Lyric Opera of Melbourne); Mercedes: Carmen (In Good Company); Susan: A Dinner Engagement, First Knitter: A Game of Chance (Music Vocal Company) ; soloist with Box Hill Chorale, MUCS, Kapelle Singers, Melbourne University Faculty Choir.
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, Celeste #1/A waitress: Sunday in the Park with George. Puss: Puss in Boots, Chorus: Nixon in China, Queen Clementine: Sleeping Beauty, Clorinda: La Cenerentola for Education Program, Gossip: Angelique, Cherubino (cover): The Marriage of Figaro, Sesto (cover): Julius Caesar, Popova (cover): The Bear, Robber Girl: Snow Queen, God: Noye’s Fludde. Soloist: Opera on a White Night Gala Concert, Gala Concert 2012, Master of Music (Opera Performance) Work in Progress, Sing Your Own Opera, Moomba Opening Night Concert and Master of Music (Opera Performance) Student Recital, Assembly. Other Companies: The Ring. Wagner: Animated (More Than Opera); Young Woman and Reporter: Pecan Summer (Short Black Productions); title role: Carmen (In Good Company); Papagena: The Magic Flute (VCA Symphony Orchestra); Plaintiff/ Angelina: Trial by Jury, Hebe: HMS Pinafore (Savoy Opera Company); Clytemnestra: The Greek Tragedies (NIDA); Chorus: Lucia di Lammermoor, Madama Butterfly (Opera Australia).
Victorian Opera: Principal singer: The Play of Daniel. Other Companies: Wisewould the Wombat: Laugh out Loud, Stephon: Iolanthe, Big Ben: Merrie England, Adonis: Venus and Adonis, Aeneas: Dido and Aeneas, Philicome: La Belle Helene. Concert Repertoire: Tenor soloist: Himmelfährtsoratorium, tenor soloist: From Jewish Folk Poetry, baritone soloist, Duruflé Requiem.
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, Chorus: Nixon in China, Soloist: 2012 Victorian Opera Gala, Soloist: Masters of Music (Opera Performance) Work in Progress, Soloist: Sing Your Own Opera and Sing Your Own Messiah, Angelina: La Cenerentola for the Education Program, Soloist: Moomba Opening Night Concert and Masters of Music (Opera Performance) Recital. Other Companies: Ensemble: Orpheus in the Underworld, (The Opera Studio Melbourne); Ophelia: The Shakespeare Project (ACT Singers); Irene: A Guide to Handel’s Oratorios (Canberra Handel Choir); Peep-bo: The Mikado, Bridesmaid: Trial by Jury, (ACT Singers). Concert Repertoire: Beethoven Mass in C and Choral Fantasia, Duruflé Requiem, Mozart Vesperae solemnes de confessore.
CREATIVE & CAST
CREATIVE & CAST
BIOGRAPHIES
BIOGRAPHIES
Pudding Jeremy Kleeman
BUNYIP BLUEGUM Nathan Lay
BILL BARNACLE Timothy Reynolds
SAM SAWNOFF Daniel Todd
Background: Jeremy Kleeman studied a Bachelor of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) from 2009 to 2011. In 2012 he was accepted into Victorian Opera and the MCM’s new two-year Master of Music (Opera Performance) course. Jeremy was a finalist in the 2012 IFAC Australian Singing Competition, winning the Merenda Prize for study in Italy and the David Harper Award in the final held at the Sydney Opera House. At the MCM Jeremy was the recipient of the Victor Fox Award (2009), Lady Turner Exhibition in Music (2010), Cassidy Bequest (2011), Harold Fisher Opera Scholarship B’Nai B’rith (2011), Lady Turner Exhibition in Music (2011), Muriel Cheek Memorial Scholarship (2011) and was an Awardee of the Acclaim Sleath Lowrey Scholarship 2012.
Background: Nathan completed his Bachelor of Music at Melba Conservatorium of Music in 2008. Whilst completing this course, he was the recipient of multiple scholarships including the Melba Conservatorium Scholarship and three time recipient of the Robert Salzer Scholarship. Nathan was awarded the Gertrude Johnson Scholarship to attend The Opera Studio Melbourne in 2010. That same year, Nathan won the National Liederfest and was named Australian Music Events’ Opera Scholar of the Year, enabling him to perform alongside singers such as David Hobson and Rosario La Spina. In 2012 Nathan was runner-up in the Melbourne Welsh Male Choir’s ‘Singer of the Year’ competition, winner of the Kantor Encouragement Award at the Melbourne Recital Centre’s ‘Great Romantics Competition’, and was runner-up and winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2012 Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Aria competition.
Background: Graduated with a Bachelor of Music (University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music) in 2007 and a Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching from University of Melbourne in 2009. Member of The Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne from 2002-2008. Completing a Master of Music (Opera Performance), Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne.
Background: Born in Malaysia, Daniel has attained a Bachelor of Music (Hons) (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music) and Bachelor of Law (University of Melbourne). Victorian Opera’s Developing Artist Program 2011-2013. He has won the RMP Aria, Opera Society Young Artist Scholarship and Faculty Aria (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music). He has also been a prizewinner in the IFAC Australian Singing Competition, German Australian Opera Grant, National Liederfest, South-Eastern Aria and the Sleath Lowrey Award. Completing a Master of Music (Opera Performance), Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne.
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, Hornplayer/ Lee Randolph: Sunday in the Park with George. Ogre in Puss in Boots, Chorus: Nixon in China, Soloist in Opera on a White Night Gala Concert 2013, Soloist in Richard Gill’s 2012 Gala Concert, Soloist in Master of Music (Opera Performance) Work in Progress, Soloist for In The Beginning Was The Word, Soloist for Sing Your Own Opera, Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola for Education Program, Moomba Opening Night Concert and Master of Music (Opera Performance) student recital; Soloist: Assembly. Concert Repertoire: Bass soloist: Fauré Requiem, Bass soloist: Schubert Mass in G.
Victorian Opera: Louis/Billy Webster: Sunday in the Park with George. Chorus: Nixon in China. King: Puss in Boots. Soloist: Opera on a White Night Gala Concert. Chorus: Biographica, Soloist: 2012 Gala Concert. Other Companies: Schaunard: La Bohème, Guglielmo: Così fan tutte (Melbourne Opera), Emperor: The Emperor of Atlantis (IOpera). Concert Repertoire: Mozart: Coronation Mass, Fauré: Requiem, Brahms: Requiem, Handel: Messiah, Paladilhe: Messe de St François d’Assise, Beethoven: Choral fantasia in C minor and Mass in C Major, Orff: Carmina Burana, Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols and The First Nowell.
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, Miller: Puss in Boots, Zen: Elliott Carter’s What Next? – Double Bill; Soloist: Sing Your Own Opera, Prince’s Messenger in La Cenerentola for Education Program, Moomba Opening Night Concert and Master of Music (Opera Performance) student recital; Narrator: Coffee Cantata – Baroque Triple Bill; Soloist: Sing Your Own Messiah; Chorus: Oedipus Rex, Puccini: The Sacred and the Profane, Seven Last Words From The Cross, Carmina Burana, The Damnation of Faust. Other Companies: Chorus: Fledermaus, Tosca, Rigoletto, Les pêcheurs de perles, Macbeth, La bohème; Lucia di Lammermoor, (Opera Australia); Gaston: La traviata; Chorus: Tosca, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, Tosca; (Melbourne Opera). Concert repertoire: Bach’s St Johannes Passion (arias); La Recitant: Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ; Bach’s B Minor Mass; Handel's Messiah; Mozart Mass in C minor, Requiem; Soloist for the MSO, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Ludovico's Band, the Consort of Melbourne, the National Boys Choir, Gloriana and The Choir of St James King St.
Victorian Opera: Soloist: Rush Hour, Man/Museum Assistant: Sunday in the Park with George, Puss: Puss in Boots, Chorus: Nixon in China, Prince Waldheim: Sleeping Beauty, Don Curzio: The Marriage of Figaro, Testo: Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and Midas: The Fight Between Phoebus and Pan (Baroque Triple Bill), Tamino: The Magic Flute, The Witch: Hansel and Gretel and Prince’s Messenger: La Cenerentola for Education Program, Mick Davoren: The Cockatoos (world première), Ham: Noye’s Fludde. Soloist: Opera on a White Night Gala Concert, Assembly. Other Companies: Pluto: Orpheus in the Underworld (Monash Opera Ensemble), Lord Tolloler: Iolanthe (Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria), Shepherd / Soldier: King Arthur (Melbourne University Choral Society), Monteverdi’s Eighth Book of Madrigals (E21 with Andrew Lawrence-King). Concert repertoire: JS Bach, Mass in B Minor, Messiah (Handel and Mozart versions), Haydn: Creation, Gounod St Cecilia Mass, Berlioz: Requiem, Puccini: Messa di Gloria, Ramírez: Misa Criolla, Chisholm: Kursk: An Oratorio Requiem (world première).
PATRONS VICTORIAN OPERA Victorian Opera acknowledges with great appreciation the gifts and pledges it has received from the following donors:
Founding Patrons
The Late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE Lady Potter AC
Patron in Chief
The Honourable Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria
Victorian Youth Opera Patron Betty Amsden OAM
Living Bequest Susan Harley
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE Jennifer Brukner William J Forrest AM John & Diana Frew Richard & Isabella Green Mrs Jane Hemstritch Hans & Petra Henkell Peter & Anne Laver
VICTORIAN OPERA Education Syndicate Betty Amsden OAM Buckett Family Hans & Petra Henkell
VICTORIAN OPERA New Work Syndicate
Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM Ken & Marian Scarlett Joy Selby Smith Felicity Teague
Diamond Patrons ($10,000+)
Betty Amsden OAM The Late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE Schapper Family Foundation
Platinum Patrons ($5,000+) Neilma Gantner Paul Little AO & Jane Hansen Joy Selby Smith Dr John & Elizabeth Wright-Smith Anonymous (1)
Gold Patrons ($2,500+)
Lynda Campbell Bruce Curl Craig D’Alton & Peter Sherlock John & Gaye Gaylard Dr Gavan Griffith AO QC Margaret Mayers & Marie Dowling Judith Rodriguez
Paul & Sandra Salteri Gregory Shalit & Miriam Faine Tim & Lynne Sherwood Felicity Teague Anonymous (1)
Silver Patrons ($1,000+)
Joanna Baevski Laurie Bebbington & Elizabeth O’Keeffe Kirsty Bennett Sheila Bignell Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM Buckett Family Ms Corrie Calegari & Mr Ian Law Terry & Christine Campbell Jim & Diana Carlton Caroline & Robert Clemente Mary & Frederick Davidson Martin Dickson AM Stephanie Dundas Marj & Eduard Eshuys Gareth & Merran Evans Rosemary Forbes & Ian Hocking Susan & Don Fry AO Mr Greig Gailey & Dr Geraldine Lazarus Bob Garlick Brian Goddard Anthony Grigg & Paul Williamson Stuart & Sue Hamilton Geoff & Anthea Hone Stewart & Denise Jackel Simon L Jackson & Brian Warburton Stuart T Jennings Kemp Family Ian Kennedy AM & Dr Sandra Hacker AO Sue Kirkham in memory of Ian Kirkham John & Lynne Landy Kwong & Joanne Lee Dow Joan & George Lefroy Anne Lierse Barbara Loft Professor John Lovering AO & Ms Kerry Lovering OAM Kaye E Marion Duncan & Lorraine McGregor Ann Miller Ken Muirden AO Ruth & Tom O’Dea Diity Reed Sam Ricketson & Rosemary Ayton Michael Rigg
Elžbieta & Tomasz Romanowski Joseph Sambrook & Mary-Jane Gething Michael Sassella John & Elisabeth Schiller Aubrey G Schrader Phillip & Sue Schudmak Bernadette Slater Lady Southey AC Michael Troy Liz & Peter Turner Catherine Walter AM Andrea Walton Lord & Lady Wilton Anonymous (6)
Bronze Patrons ($500+)
John & Nancy Bomford Jasmine Brunner Neil Burns Pam Caldwell Kathie Convery Tanya Costello Catrionadh Dobson & Charles Windeyer Elizabeth Douglas Jean Dunn Dennis Freeman Nance Grant MBE Jill & Robert Grogan April Hamer Sue Humphries Angela Kayser Irene Kearsey David & Barbara McSkimming Kenneth W Park Lynette Payne John Rickard Judith Robinson Mary Ryan Margarita & Paul Schneider John & Thea Scott Mr Sam & Mrs Minnie Smorgon Hugh Taylor & Elizabeth Dax Neil Twist Caroline Vaillant Robyn Walton Russell Waters & Marissa Barter-Waters Ian A. Watts Anonymous (8)
If you would like to get more involved in the work of Victorian Opera through our individual giving program, please contact Catrionadh Dobson, Individual Giving Manager on 03 9001 6405 or catrionadhd@victorianopera.com.au.
2013 SEASON PARTNERS
VICTORIAN OPERA
VICTORIAN OPERA
A BOLD NEW ADVENTURE
Victorian Opera is supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria. Victorian Opera would also like to acknowledge, with great appreciation, the contribution of the partners listed on this page.
Government Partners
Major Sponsor and Community Partner
Foundation Partner
Discover Opera Across Victoria Partner
‘Opera is the perfect marriage of words and music, a window on the marvellous. When Victorian Opera audiences look through this extraordinary window they describe the experience as inspiring, amazing, exhilarating and uplifting.’ Richard Mills
Victorian Opera aspires to be a company unconstrained by narrow definitions of what an opera program “should” be. We are dedicated to presenting work with a difference, through innovation, accessibility and collaboration. Most of all, we aspire to create opera and musical theatre for all Victorians. Our 2014 season includes the new Australian work, The Riders based on the novel by Tim Winton, a breathtaking new presentation of Verdi’s much loved classic La traviata, and brand new production of Sondheim’s Tony award-winning musical Into the Woods. We are committed to engaging new audiences in the art form through affordable pricing, regional touring, education initiatives and collaborations with other arts organisations. We are also committed to developing the next generation of artists through the annual Youth Opera and the Master of Music (Opera Performance), a collaboration between with Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne. It is through these unique initiatives, creative partnerships and a strong artistic vision that Victorian Opera has established itself as major player in the operatic landscape.
Supporting Partners Extend your opera experience Be a part of our online community - share your thoughts with us on Facebook, join the conversations on Twitter, comment on our Behind the Curtain blog, view our programs online and get a glimpse into company life through Instagram and YouTube. Our website is tablet and smart phone friendly – connect with us wherever you are. Become part of our community and share your stories with us! Engage with us @ facebook.com/vopera
Join in the conversation @ twitter.com/victorianopera #victorianopera
See our snapshots @ instagram.com/victorianopera
View our opera journey @ youtube.com/victorianoperapage
Discover our 2013 Season @ victorianopera.com.au
Read behind-the-scenes @ victorianopera.com.au/blog
Education, Regional & Access Partners
Sylvia Fisher Foundation Performance Partners
William Angliss Charitable Fund
University Partner
Victorian Opera creates tailored partnerships to enable businesses to meet their strategic priorities. Partnerships are available at various levels and activity is adapted to align with each company’s objectives. For a discussion about how your business can benefit from a partnership with Victorian Opera, please contact Lynette Gillman, Development Manager on (03) 9001 6408 or lynetteg@victorianopera.com.au.