{{Short description|Australian opera company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} thumb|right|Melbourne Opera logo '''Melbourne Opera''' was founded in 2002 as a charitable not-for-profit company dedicated to producing opera and associated art forms in Melbourne, Australia. With philanthropic assistance<ref>{{cite web|url=http://henkellfamilyfund.com.au/support/cultural/26|title=Henkell Family Fund – Support|website=henkellfamilyfund.com.au}}</ref> it has also toured to outer-suburban and regional Victorian theatres, as well as to Canberra and Hobart interstate. Despite receiving no government funding since its foundation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/the-opera-wars-20040925-gdyos9.html|title=The opera wars|date=25 September 2004|work=The Age}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://operachaser.blogspot.com/2017/11/from-melbourne-opera-intellectual-and.html|title=OperaChaser: From Melbourne Opera, intellectual and visceral strength greet the long overdue Australian premiere of Donizetti's ''Roberto Devereux''|date=12 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/new-melbourne-opera-company-will-reap-benefits-of-australian-government-funding|title=New Melbourne Opera Company Will Reap Benefits of Australian Government Funding|first=Emily|last=Quinn|date=3 August 2005|website=Playbill|ref=none}}</ref> the company mounts between three and five main stage productions each year. Its principal rehearsal and performance home is the Athenaeum Theatre.

Melbourne Opera is the business and trading name of South East Regional Touring Opera Ltd.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/0509ee1711abf8c0c66293ecf13fa4b0|title=South East Regional Touring Opera Company Limited|date=6 May 2021|website=acnc.gov.au}}</ref> The corporate name was changed on 1 June 2007 to reflect the company's much expanded geographical scope.

==History==

Melbourne Opera's inaugural season consisted of ''La traviata'' directed by Blair Edgar, a new production of Bizet's ''The Pearl Fishers'' using Bizet's restored 1863 score, and Mozart's ''The Magic Flute'', directed by Caroline Stacey. A proposed merger with Melbourne City Opera in 2005 did not proceed.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.playbill.com/article/merger-of-melbourne-opera-companies-called-off | title = Merger of Melbourne Opera Companies Called Off | last = Quinn | first = Emily | date = 16 May 2005 |work=Playbill|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref> In 2006 the company's first large scale tour commenced with a production of ''Don Giovanni'' travelling to Ballarat, Benalla, Frankston, Geelong, Hobart, Plenty Ranges, Sale, Warrnambool, and the Theatre Royal, Hobart. From 2010 to 2018 the company partnered with Monash University to bring performances to its Clayton Campus. In 2017 Melbourne Opera established the Richard Divall Emerging Artists Programme.<ref>[https://melbourneopera.com/rdeap/ "Richard Divall Program"]. {{retrieved|access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref>

===Bendigo ''Ring''=== In 2020 the company announced that it was embarking on a four-year project to perform Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'', commencing with ''Das Rheingold''. This production was postponed due to the global outbreak of COVID-19<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://marrinergroup.com.au/shows/wagners-das-rheingold |title=Wagner's ''Das Rheingold'' &#124; Regent Theatre |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803083538/https://marrinergroup.com.au/shows/wagners-das-rheingold |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was premiered in early 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|title=''Das Rheingold'' Melbourne Opera|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/das-rheingold-melbourne-opera/|magazine=Limelight}}</ref> ''Die Walküre'', the second in the four ''Ring'' operas was premiered in 2022. Both ''Das Rheingold'' and ''Die Walküre'' were performed in Melbourne and in Bendigo, the regional Victorian city where the full ''Ring Cycle'' would eventually be performed. The third ''Ring'' opera, ''Siegfried'', was first given a concert performance in Melbourne in 2022. The company presented three full ''Ring Cycles'' in Bendigo at the Ulumbarra Theatre in 2023, with ''Siegfried'' receiving its staged premiere, followed by the company's premiere of ''Götterdämmerung''. It was the first independent production of ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' to be staged in Australia in over 100 years, critically acclaimed and attracting audiences from Melbourne, interstate and from overseas.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.melbourneopera.com/project/das-rheingold/ | title = ''Das Rheingold'' (2021) | date = 2021}}{{Third-party inline|date=November 2024}}</ref> The cast included: Warwick Fyfe as Wotan, Sarah Sweeting and Dimity Shepherd as Fricka, Antoinette Halloran and Zara Barrett as Brünnhilde, Simon Meadows as Alberich, James Egglestone as Loge and Siegmund, Lee Abrahmsen as Freia, Steven Gallop as Fafner, Robert Macfarlane (tenor) as Mime, and Deborah Humble as Erda.<ref>[https://melbourneopera.com/project/bendigo-ring-cycle/ Bendigo Ring] (2023)</ref>

=== Productions === Productions of Melbourne Opera have included:<ref>[https://www.melbourneopera.com/past-productions/ "Past productions"], Melbourne Opera</ref> * 2003 ''La traviata'' (Verdi), ''The Pearl Fishers'' (Bizet), ''The Magic Flute'' (Mozart) * 2004 ''Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini), ''Rigoletto'' (Verdi), ''Così fan tutte'' (Mozart) * 2005 ''Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini), ''The Tell-Tale Heart'' (Dennis Vaughan),{{efn|name=WP}} ''Die Fledermaus'' (Johann Strauss II) * 2006 ''Don Giovanni'' (Mozart), ''The Barber of Seville'' (Rossini), ''Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini) * 2007 ''Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini), ''Carmen'' (Bizet), ''Cavalleria rusticana'' (Mascagni), ''Suor Angelica'' (Puccini), ''The Italian Girl in Algiers'' (Rossini), ''The Barber of Seville'' (Rossini). * 2008 ''La bohème'' (Puccini), ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (Mozart), ''I puritani'' (Bellini) * 2009 ''La traviata'' (Verdi),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianstage.com.au/200903272374/reviews/melbourne/la-traviata-%7C-melbourne-opera.html|title=''La traviata'' – Melbourne Opera|website=australianstage.com.au}}</ref> ''Tosca'' (Puccini)<ref>{{cite web|author=Gérard Schneider|url=https://visual.artshub.com.au/news-article/reviews/museums/g%C3%A9rard-schneider/tosca-melbourne-opera-179456|title=''Tosca'': Melbourne Opera|publisher=visual.artshub.com.au|date=2009-10-13|access-date=2021-05-11}}</ref> * 2010 ''The Barber of Seville'' (Rossini), ''Cavalleria rusticana'' (Mascagni), ''Pagliacci'' (Leoncavello),<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carbone|first1=Suzanne|title=Music to the ears|date=7 September 2010 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/melbourne-life/it-suits-radio-hosts-just-fine-to-keep-talking-20100907-14zmc.html|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald - 8 September 2010|accessdate=20 January 2013|quote=He (Peter Kavanagh) lapped up Melbourne Opera's arias in Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at the Athenaeum, watching his old teaching colleague Michael Reed, a tenor in the chorus.}}</ref> ''Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini) * 2011 ''The Merry Widow'' (Lehár),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/opera-offers-a-merry-opening/news-story/64781258ebc4c3e72882207e7c530a86?sv=160593d90703512bc63fff16211ea44a |title=opera-offers-a-merry-opening |work=Herald Sun|date= |access-date=2021-05-11}}{{dead link|date=May 2021}}</ref> ''Faust'' (Gounod),<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/faust-is-short-on-vocal-stature/news-story/31d1336589a04fd9577a486d97026b15 |title=faust-is-short-on-vocal-stature |work=Herald Sun|date= |access-date=2021-05-11}}{{dead link|date=May 2021}}</ref> ''Carmen'' (Bizet)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianstage.com.au/201111144946/reviews/melbourne/carmen-%7C-melbourne-opera.html|title=''Carmen'' – Melbourne Opera|website=australianstage.com.au}}</ref> * 2012 ''The Merry Widow'' (Lehár), ''La bohème'' (Puccini),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianstage.com.au/201203115243/reviews/melbourne/la-boh%C3%A9me-%7C-melbourne-opera.html|title=''La bohéme'' – Melbourne Opera|website=australianstage.com.au}}</ref> ''Carmen'' (Bizet),<ref name="auto"/> ''Così fan tutte'' (Mozart) * 2013 ''Fidelio'' (Beethoven), ''The Merry Widow'' (Lehár), ''Così fan tutte'' (Mozart), ''La traviata'' (Verdi), ''Rienzi'' (Wagner)†,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/melbourne-operas-performs-rienzi-a-lumpish-curiosity-piece-not-one-of-wagners-best-20131209-2z1n5.html|title=Melbourne Opera's performs ''Rienzi'', a lumpish curiosity piece not one of Wagner's best|first=Michael|last=Shmith|author-link=Michael Shmith|date=9 December 2013|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> * 2014 ''Rienzi'' (Wagner)†, ''Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini), ''The Pearl Fishers'' (Bizet) * 2015 ''Der Freischütz'' (Weber),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianstage.com.au/201502027108/reviews/melbourne/der-freischutz-%7C-melbourne-opera.html|title=''Der Freischütz'' – Melbourne Opera|website=australianstage.com.au}}</ref> ''The Barber of Seville'' (Rossini),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/arts-update/101-arts-update/2627-the-barber-of-seville-melbourne-opera|title=''The Barber of Seville'' (Melbourne Opera)|first=Rob|last=Holdsworth|website=australianbookreview.com.au|date=29 June 2015 |ref=none}}</ref> ''Maria Stuarda'' (Donizetti)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/arts-update/101-arts-update/2714-mary-stuart-melbourne-opera|title=''Mary Stuart'' (Melbourne Opera)|first=Rob|last=Holdsworth|website=australianbookreview.com.au |date=4 September 2015 }}</ref> * 2016 ''The Abduction from the Seraglio'' (Mozart),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/opera-review-the-abduction-from-the-seraglio-melbourne-opera/news-story/0ef47c6cd4f2ffdb37e86aa2e6bad5f4|title=Opera review: ''The Abduction from the Seraglio'', Melbourne Opera|first1=Paul|last1=Selar|date=4 February 2016|work=Herald Sun}}</ref> ''Tannhäuser'' (Wagner),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/tannhauser-review-grand-romantic-new-production-a-great-leap-forward-for-melbourne-opera-20160815-gqsnc3.html|title=''Tannhäuser'' review: Grand, romantic new production a great leap forward for Melbourne Opera|first=Michael|last=Shmith|author-link=Michael Shmith|date=15 August 2016|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> ''Anna Bolena'' (Donizetti){{efn|name=AP}} * 2017 ''H.M.S. Pinafore'' (Gilbert and Sullivan),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/melbourne-operas-hms-pinafore-is-a-handsome-spit-and-polished-production/news-story/c6fbc44321e626c580a3a0017887cbd6|title=Melbourne Opera's ''HMS Pinafore'' is a handsome, spit and polished production|work=Herald Sun}}</ref> ''Lohengrin'' (Wagner),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/review-lohengrin-melbourne-opera/|title=''Lohengrin'' (Melbourne Opera)|work=Limelight}}</ref> ''Roberto Devereux'' (Donizetti)<ref>{{cite web|last=Zwartz|first=Barney|date=2017-11-12|title=Melbourne Opera – ''Roberto Devereux'': Helena Dix imbues work with real credibility|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/melbourne-opera--roberto-devereux--helena-dix-imbues-work-with-real-credibility-20171110-gzijf5.html|access-date=2020-07-25|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> * 2018 ''Tristan und Isolde'' (Wagner),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/tristan-isolde-melbourne-opera/|title=''Tristan and Isolde'' (Melbourne Opera)|work=Limelight}}</ref> ''Der Rosenkavalier'' (Richard Strauss),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/opera-gets-a-donald-trump-makeover-20180809-p4zwi6.html|title=Opera gets a Donald Trump makeover|first=Bridget|last=Davies|date=13 August 2018|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> ''Otello'' (Rossini){{efn|name=AP}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/otello-melbourne-opera/|title=''Otello'' (Melbourne Opera)|work=Limelight}}</ref> * 2019 ''Der fliegende Holländer'' (Wagner),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/the-flying-dutchman-review|title=''The Flying Dutchman'' review – Theatre in Melbourne|work=Time Out Melbourne}}</ref> ''Norma'' (Donizetti)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/norma-review|title=''Norma'' review|work=Time Out Melbourne}}</ref> * 2020 ''Fidelio'' (Beethoven)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/opera/melbourne-opera-in-superb-voice-for-beethoven-s-magnificent-fidelio-20200206-p53y9w.html|title=Melbourne Opera in superb voice for Beethoven's magnificent ''Fidelio''|first=Bridget|last=Davies|date=6 February 2020|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> *2021 ''Das Rheingold'' (Wagner),<ref name=":0" /> ''Macbeth'' (Verdi)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macbeth Melbourne Opera|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/macbeth-melbourne-opera/}}</ref> *2022 ''Die Walküre'' (Wagner), ''Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny'' (Weill/Brecht), ''Lucrezia Borgia'' (Donizetti), ''Siegfried'' (Wagner)† *2023 ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' (Wagner), ''Maria Stuarda'' (Donizetti) *2024 ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' (Donizetti), ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (Mozart), ''La bohème'' (Puccini), and ''Suor Angelica'' (Puccini) {{notelist|refs= <ref name=WP>World premiere concert performance</ref><ref name=AP>Australian premiere</ref> }}

==Governance==

Melbourne Opera is charitable company<ref name="auto1"/> governed by a board; the current chair is David Pitt.

==Patrons== * Patron-in-Chief: Lady Potter AC CMRI * Patron: Richard Bonynge AC CBE * Founding Patrons: Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO KStJ QC, Prof Richard Divall AO OBE, Sir Rupert Hamer AC KCMG, Lady Hamer, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC CBE.

==Orchestra==

The Melbourne Opera Orchestra was founded in 2003 and has developed into an ensemble in its own right. In December 2015/January 2016, and December 2016/January 2017 the orchestra undertook a concert tour of China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.chncpa.org/whatson/zdyc/201710/t20171016_178080.shtml|title=Melbourne Opera Orchestra|publisher=National Centre for the Performing Arts (China)}}</ref>

==Conductors== Greg Hocking AM is Melbourne Opera's conductor-in-residence and Raymond Lawrence is Head of Music. Guest conductors include John Dingle, Richard Divall, Patrick Burns, Ben Hudson, David Kram AM, Armando Krieger, Anthony Negus, Aldo Salvagno, Warwick Stengards and Matthew Toogood.<ref name="About">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://melbourneopera.com/about/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Melbourne Opera |date=8 July 2017 }}</ref>

==Stage directors== Directors who have worked with the company include: Bruce Beresford, Greg Carroll, Suzanne Chaundy, Blair Edgar, Hugh Halliday, Plamen Kartaloff, Robert Ray, and Caroline Stacey.<ref name="About"/>

==Richard Divall Program== The Richard Divall Emerging Artists Program was created to honour the memory of Richard Divall AO OBE, supported by a bequest made by Melbourne-born soprano, Sylvia Fisher. Upon her death, Fisher made this bequest to ensure the continuing support of the development new artists of operatic excellence in her hometown, Melbourne. Divall was closely involved in the planning and creation of this program before his death in 2017. The first intake of performers was in 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/singers-selected-for-the-richard-divall-emerging-arts-program/|title=Singers selected for Melbourne Opera's Richard Divall Emerging Artists Program|magazine=Limelight}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|https://www.melbourneopera.com/}}

{{Portal bar|Opera}} {{authority control}}

Category:Australian opera companies Category:Musical groups established in 2002 Category:2002 establishments in Australia Category:Performing arts in Melbourne Category:Music in Melbourne