# Melbourne Opera

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Melbourne_Opera
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Melbourne_Opera.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Opera
> Source revision: 1319378730
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Melbourne Opera** was founded in 2002 as a charitable not-for-profit company dedicated to producing [opera](/source/Opera) and associated art forms in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), Australia. With philanthropic assistance[1] it has also toured to outer-suburban and regional Victorian theatres, as well as to [Canberra](/source/Canberra) and [Hobart](/source/Hobart) interstate. Despite receiving no government funding since its foundation,[2][3][4] the company mounts between three and five main stage productions each year. Its principal rehearsal and performance home is the [Athenaeum Theatre](/source/Melbourne_Athenaeum).

Melbourne Opera is the business and trading name of South East Regional Touring Opera Ltd.[5] 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](/source/La_traviata)* directed by Blair Edgar, a new production of Bizet's *[The Pearl Fishers](/source/Les_p%C3%AAcheurs_de_perles)* using Bizet's restored 1863 score, and Mozart's *[The Magic Flute](/source/The_Magic_Flute)*, directed by Caroline Stacey. A proposed merger with [Melbourne City Opera](/source/Melbourne_City_Opera) in 2005 did not proceed.[6] In 2006 the company's first large scale tour commenced with a production of *[Don Giovanni](/source/Don_Giovanni)* travelling to Ballarat, Benalla, Frankston, Geelong, Hobart, Plenty Ranges, Sale, Warrnambool, and the [Theatre Royal, Hobart](/source/Theatre_Royal,_Hobart). From 2010 to 2018 the company partnered with [Monash University](/source/Monash_University) to bring performances to its Clayton Campus. In 2017 Melbourne Opera established the [Richard Divall](/source/Richard_Divall) Emerging Artists Programme.[7]

### Bendigo *Ring*

In 2020 the company announced that it was embarking on a four-year project to perform Wagner's *[Der Ring des Nibelungen](/source/Der_Ring_des_Nibelungen)*, commencing with *[Das Rheingold](/source/Das_Rheingold)*. This production was postponed due to the global outbreak of [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19)[8] and was premiered in early 2021.[9] *[Die Walküre](/source/Die_Walk%C3%BCre)*, the second in the four *Ring* operas was premiered in 2022. Both *Das Rheingold* and *Die Walküre* were performed in Melbourne and in [Bendigo](/source/Bendigo), the regional Victorian city where the full *Ring Cycle* would eventually be performed. The third *Ring* opera, *[Siegfried](/source/Siegfried_(opera))*, was first given a concert performance in Melbourne in 2022. The company presented three full *Ring Cycles* in Bendigo at the [Ulumbarra Theatre](/source/Ulumbarra_Theatre) in 2023, with *Siegfried* receiving its staged premiere, followed by the company's premiere of *[Götterdämmerung](/source/G%C3%B6tterd%C3%A4mmerung)*. 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.[10] The cast included: [Warwick Fyfe](/source/Warwick_Fyfe) as Wotan, Sarah Sweeting and Dimity Shepherd as Fricka, [Antoinette Halloran](/source/Antoinette_Halloran) and Zara Barrett as Brünnhilde, Simon Meadows as Alberich, James Egglestone as Loge and Siegmund, [Lee Abrahmsen](/source/Lee_Abrahmsen) as Freia, Steven Gallop as Fafner, Robert Macfarlane (tenor) as Mime, and [Deborah Humble](/source/Deborah_Humble) as Erda.[11]

### Productions

Productions of Melbourne Opera have included:[12]

- 2003 *[La traviata](/source/La_traviata)* (Verdi), *[The Pearl Fishers](/source/Les_p%C3%AAcheurs_de_perles)* (Bizet), *[The Magic Flute](/source/The_Magic_Flute)* (Mozart)
- 2004 *[Madama Butterfly](/source/Madama_Butterfly)* (Puccini), *[Rigoletto](/source/Rigoletto)* (Verdi), *[Così fan tutte](/source/Cos%C3%AC_fan_tutte)* (Mozart)
- 2005 *Madama Butterfly* (Puccini), *The Tell-Tale Heart* (Dennis Vaughan),[a] *[Die Fledermaus](/source/Die_Fledermaus)* ([Johann Strauss II](/source/Johann_Strauss_II))
- 2006 *[Don Giovanni](/source/Don_Giovanni)* (Mozart), *[The Barber of Seville](/source/The_Barber_of_Seville)* (Rossini), *Madama Butterfly* (Puccini)
- 2007 *Madama Butterfly* (Puccini), *[Carmen](/source/Carmen)* (Bizet), *[Cavalleria rusticana](/source/Cavalleria_rusticana)* (Mascagni), *[Suor Angelica](/source/Suor_Angelica)* (Puccini), [*The Italian Girl in Algiers*](/source/L'italiana_in_Algeri) (Rossini), *The Barber of Seville* (Rossini).
- 2008 *[La bohème](/source/La_boh%C3%A8me)* (Puccini), *[The Marriage of Figaro](/source/The_Marriage_of_Figaro)* (Mozart), *[I puritani](/source/I_puritani)* (Bellini)
- 2009 *La traviata* (Verdi),[13] *[Tosca](/source/Tosca)* (Puccini)[14]
- 2010 *The Barber of Seville* (Rossini), *Cavalleria rusticana* (Mascagni), *[Pagliacci](/source/Pagliacci)* (Leoncavello),[15] *Madama Butterfly* (Puccini)
- 2011 *[The Merry Widow](/source/The_Merry_Widow)* (Lehár),[16] [*Faust*](/source/Faust_(opera)) (Gounod),[17] *[Carmen](/source/Carmen)* (Bizet)[18]
- 2012 *The Merry Widow* (Lehár), *La bohème* (Puccini),[19] *Carmen* (Bizet),[17] *Così fan tutte* (Mozart)
- 2013 *[Fidelio](/source/Fidelio)* (Beethoven), *The Merry Widow* (Lehár), *Così fan tutte* (Mozart), *La traviata* (Verdi), *[Rienzi](/source/Rienzi)* (Wagner)†,[20]
- 2014 *[Rienzi](/source/Rienzi)* (Wagner)†, *Madama Butterfly* (Puccini), *The Pearl Fishers* (Bizet)
- 2015 *[Der Freischütz](/source/Der_Freisch%C3%BCtz)* (Weber),[21] *The Barber of Seville* (Rossini),[22] *[Maria Stuarda](/source/Maria_Stuarda)* (Donizetti)[23]
- 2016 *[The Abduction from the Seraglio](/source/Die_Entf%C3%BChrung_aus_dem_Serail)* (Mozart),[24] *[Tannhäuser](/source/Tannh%C3%A4user_(opera))* (Wagner),[25] *[Anna Bolena](/source/Anna_Bolena)* (Donizetti)[b]
- 2017 *[H.M.S. Pinafore](/source/H.M.S._Pinafore)* ([Gilbert and Sullivan](/source/Gilbert_and_Sullivan)),[26] *[Lohengrin](/source/Lohengrin_(opera))* (Wagner),[27] *[Roberto Devereux](/source/Roberto_Devereux)* (Donizetti)[28]
- 2018 *[Tristan und Isolde](/source/Tristan_und_Isolde)* (Wagner),[29] *[Der Rosenkavalier](/source/Der_Rosenkavalier)* ([Richard Strauss](/source/Richard_Strauss)),[30] *[Otello](/source/Otello_(Rossini))* (Rossini)[b][31]
- 2019 *[Der fliegende Holländer](/source/Der_fliegende_Holl%C3%A4nder)* (Wagner),[32] *[Norma](/source/Norma_(opera))* (Donizetti)[33]
- 2020 *Fidelio* (Beethoven)[34]
- 2021 *[Das Rheingold](/source/Das_Rheingold)* (Wagner),[9] [*Macbeth*](/source/Macbeth_(Verdi)) (Verdi)[35]
- 2022 *[Die Walküre](/source/Die_Walk%C3%BCre)* (Wagner), *[Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny](/source/Rise_and_Fall_of_the_City_of_Mahagonny)* (Weill/Brecht), *[Lucrezia Borgia](/source/Lucrezia_Borgia_(opera))* (Donizetti), *[Siegfried](/source/Siegfried_(opera))* (Wagner)†
- 2023 *[Der Ring des Nibelungen](/source/Der_Ring_des_Nibelungen)* (Wagner), *[Maria Stuarda](/source/Maria_Stuarda)* (Donizetti)
- 2024 *[Lucia di Lammermoor](/source/Lucia_di_Lammermoor)* (Donizetti), *The Marriage of Figaro* (Mozart), *La bohème* (Puccini), and *Suor Angelica* (Puccini)

1. WP

1. AP

## Governance

Melbourne Opera is charitable company[5] governed by a board; the current chair is David Pitt.

## Patrons

- Patron-in-Chief: [Lady Potter](/source/Primrose_Potter) AC CMRI
- Patron: [Richard Bonynge](/source/Richard_Bonynge) AC CBE
- Founding Patrons: [Sir Zelman Cowen](/source/Sir_Zelman_Cowen) AK GCMG GCVO KStJ QC, Prof [Richard Divall](/source/Richard_Divall) AO OBE, [Sir Rupert Hamer](/source/Sir_Rupert_Hamer) AC KCMG, Lady Hamer, [Dame Elisabeth Murdoch](/source/Dame_Elisabeth_Murdoch) AC DBE, [Dame Joan Sutherland](/source/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.[36]

## 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](/source/Richard_Divall), Patrick Burns, Ben Hudson, David Kram AM, Armando Krieger, [Anthony Negus](/source/Anthony_Negus), Aldo Salvagno, Warwick Stengards and Matthew Toogood.[37]

## Stage directors

Directors who have worked with the company include: [Bruce Beresford](/source/Bruce_Beresford), Greg Carroll, Suzanne Chaundy, Blair Edgar, [Hugh Halliday](/source/Unit_4_%2B_2), Plamen Kartaloff, Robert Ray, and Caroline Stacey.[37]

## Richard Divall Program

The Richard Divall Emerging Artists Program was created to honour the memory of [Richard Divall](/source/Richard_Divall) AO OBE, supported by a bequest made by Melbourne-born soprano, [Sylvia Fisher](/source/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.[38]

## References

1. ["Henkell Family Fund – Support"](http://henkellfamilyfund.com.au/support/cultural/26). *henkellfamilyfund.com.au*

1. ["The opera wars"](https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/the-opera-wars-20040925-gdyos9.html). *[The Age](/source/The_Age)*. 25 September 2004.

1. ["OperaChaser: From Melbourne Opera, intellectual and visceral strength greet the long overdue Australian premiere of Donizetti's *Roberto Devereux*"](http://operachaser.blogspot.com/2017/11/from-melbourne-opera-intellectual-and.html). 12 November 2017.

1. Quinn, Emily (3 August 2005). ["New Melbourne Opera Company Will Reap Benefits of Australian Government Funding"](http://www.playbill.com/article/new-melbourne-opera-company-will-reap-benefits-of-australian-government-funding). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*

1. ["South East Regional Touring Opera Company Limited"](https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/0509ee1711abf8c0c66293ecf13fa4b0). *acnc.gov.au*. 6 May 2021.

1. Quinn, Emily (16 May 2005). ["Merger of Melbourne Opera Companies Called Off"](http://www.playbill.com/article/merger-of-melbourne-opera-companies-called-off). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

1. ["Richard Divall Program"](https://melbourneopera.com/rdeap/).

1. ["Wagner's *Das Rheingold* | Regent Theatre"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200803083538/https://marrinergroup.com.au/shows/wagners-das-rheingold). Archived from [the original](https://marrinergroup.com.au/shows/wagners-das-rheingold) on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.

1. ["*Das Rheingold* Melbourne Opera"](https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/das-rheingold-melbourne-opera/). *[Limelight](/source/Limelight_(magazine))*

1. ["*Das Rheingold* (2021)"](https://www.melbourneopera.com/project/das-rheingold/). 2021.[third-party source needed]

1. [Bendigo Ring](https://melbourneopera.com/project/bendigo-ring-cycle/) (2023)

1. ["Past productions"](https://www.melbourneopera.com/past-productions/), Melbourne Opera

1. ["*La traviata* – Melbourne Opera"](https://www.australianstage.com.au/200903272374/reviews/melbourne/la-traviata-%7C-melbourne-opera.html). *australianstage.com.au*

1. Gérard Schneider (2009-10-13). ["*Tosca*: Melbourne Opera"](https://visual.artshub.com.au/news-article/reviews/museums/g%C3%A9rard-schneider/tosca-melbourne-opera-179456). visual.artshub.com.au. Retrieved 2021-05-11.

1. Carbone, Suzanne (7 September 2010). ["Music to the ears"](http://www.smh.com.au/national/melbourne-life/it-suits-radio-hosts-just-fine-to-keep-talking-20100907-14zmc.html). The Sydney Morning Herald - 8 September 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 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.

1. ["opera-offers-a-merry-opening"](https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/opera-offers-a-merry-opening/news-story/64781258ebc4c3e72882207e7c530a86?sv=160593d90703512bc63fff16211ea44a). *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)*. Retrieved 2021-05-11.[dead link]

1. ["faust-is-short-on-vocal-stature"](https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/faust-is-short-on-vocal-stature/news-story/31d1336589a04fd9577a486d97026b15). *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)*. Retrieved 2021-05-11.[dead link]

1. ["*Carmen* – Melbourne Opera"](https://www.australianstage.com.au/201111144946/reviews/melbourne/carmen-%7C-melbourne-opera.html). *australianstage.com.au*

1. ["*La bohéme* – Melbourne Opera"](https://www.australianstage.com.au/201203115243/reviews/melbourne/la-boh%C3%A9me-%7C-melbourne-opera.html). *australianstage.com.au*

1. Shmith, Michael (9 December 2013). ["Melbourne Opera's performs *Rienzi*, a lumpish curiosity piece not one of Wagner's best"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/melbourne-operas-performs-rienzi-a-lumpish-curiosity-piece-not-one-of-wagners-best-20131209-2z1n5.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*

1. ["*Der Freischütz* – Melbourne Opera"](https://www.australianstage.com.au/201502027108/reviews/melbourne/der-freischutz-%7C-melbourne-opera.html). *australianstage.com.au*

1. Holdsworth, Rob (29 June 2015). ["*The Barber of Seville* (Melbourne Opera)"](https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/arts-update/101-arts-update/2627-the-barber-of-seville-melbourne-opera). *australianbookreview.com.au*

1. Holdsworth, Rob (4 September 2015). ["*Mary Stuart* (Melbourne Opera)"](https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/arts-update/101-arts-update/2714-mary-stuart-melbourne-opera). *australianbookreview.com.au*

1. Selar, Paul (4 February 2016). ["Opera review: *The Abduction from the Seraglio*, Melbourne Opera"](https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/opera-review-the-abduction-from-the-seraglio-melbourne-opera/news-story/0ef47c6cd4f2ffdb37e86aa2e6bad5f4). *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)*

1. Shmith, Michael (15 August 2016). ["*Tannhäuser* review: Grand, romantic new production a great leap forward for Melbourne Opera"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/tannhauser-review-grand-romantic-new-production-a-great-leap-forward-for-melbourne-opera-20160815-gqsnc3.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*

1. ["Melbourne Opera's *HMS Pinafore* is a handsome, spit and polished production"](https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/melbourne-operas-hms-pinafore-is-a-handsome-spit-and-polished-production/news-story/c6fbc44321e626c580a3a0017887cbd6). *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)*

1. ["*Lohengrin* (Melbourne Opera)"](https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/review-lohengrin-melbourne-opera/). *[Limelight](/source/Limelight_(magazine))*

1. Zwartz, Barney (2017-11-12). ["Melbourne Opera – *Roberto Devereux*: Helena Dix imbues work with real credibility"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/melbourne-opera--roberto-devereux--helena-dix-imbues-work-with-real-credibility-20171110-gzijf5.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. Retrieved 2020-07-25.

1. ["*Tristan and Isolde* (Melbourne Opera)"](https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/tristan-isolde-melbourne-opera/). *[Limelight](/source/Limelight_(magazine))*

1. Davies, Bridget (13 August 2018). ["Opera gets a Donald Trump makeover"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/opera-gets-a-donald-trump-makeover-20180809-p4zwi6.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*

1. ["*Otello* (Melbourne Opera)"](https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/otello-melbourne-opera/). *[Limelight](/source/Limelight_(magazine))*

1. ["*The Flying Dutchman* review – Theatre in Melbourne"](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/the-flying-dutchman-review). *[Time Out Melbourne](/source/Time_Out_Melbourne)*

1. ["*Norma* review"](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/norma-review). *[Time Out Melbourne](/source/Time_Out_Melbourne)*

1. Davies, Bridget (6 February 2020). ["Melbourne Opera in superb voice for Beethoven's magnificent *Fidelio*"](https://www.smh.com.au/culture/opera/melbourne-opera-in-superb-voice-for-beethoven-s-magnificent-fidelio-20200206-p53y9w.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*

1. ["Macbeth Melbourne Opera"](https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/macbeth-melbourne-opera/)

1. ["Melbourne Opera Orchestra"](http://en.chncpa.org/whatson/zdyc/201710/t20171016_178080.shtml). [National Centre for the Performing Arts (China)](/source/National_Centre_for_the_Performing_Arts_(China))

1. ["About"](https://melbourneopera.com/about/). *Melbourne Opera*. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 2024-07-28.

1. ["Singers selected for Melbourne Opera's Richard Divall Emerging Artists Program"](https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/singers-selected-for-the-richard-divall-emerging-arts-program/). *[Limelight](/source/Limelight_(magazine))*

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.melbourneopera.com/)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melbourne Opera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Opera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Opera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.