Happy Bastille Day! We have presented 2 French baroque
operas, Rameau’s Dardanus in 2005, and
last year’s David and Jonathan by
Charpentier. Each year we try and do something different to launch the box
office (such as last week’s Cocktail Event – see below). For Dardanus, we thought we would reclaim Australia for the
French on Bastille Day. We launched an assault on Pinchgut Island (Fort Denison),
thanks to our chorus and a few ring-ins. Working with the NPWS, the French
Consulate and some Minister’s Department, we manage to get on national TV and a
few papers - all for $200 (spent on croissants and French Champagne). Check out
the coverage here:-
I’m off to Opera
Australia’s
Baroque Masterpieces this evening - a beautiful double bill of Purcell's Dido
and Aeneas and a new production of Handel's
Acis & Galatea. I attended
opening night and hope tonight’s production doesn’t end as quickly as it did
for me the first time! The music is glorious, helped along by a superb chorus
and orchestra. It’s a chance to see Antony Walker before he goes back to the
States on Sunday. The program also features the Orchestra of the Antipodes,
Taryn Fiebig who will be singing Sicle in L’Ormindo for us, Kanen Breen who will sing Erice, and the
amazing Yvonne Kenny plays Dido. You only have one last chance to see this
special production - this Saturday 18th July. www.opera-australia.org.au. Also see Sarah Noble’s excellent review here:
primalamusica.typepad.com
If you happen to be anywhere near Chicago, Chicago Opera
Theater and Brian Dickie are very good friends of Pinchgut, and they have just
announced their 2010 spring festival season. It’s s great program and features
Justin Way directing Cavalli's Giasone –
his third production with COT. Justin directed 3 productions with Pinchgut too! www.chicagooperatheater.org
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