Victorian Opera - Melbourne | 26 January 2021 |
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Performance reviews
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SalomeVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
Vida Miknevičiūtė was heroic in the name part |
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Soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė triumphs in this musically and visually exciting season opener |
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Il barbiere di SivigliaVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
A generous helping of quality Rossini just in time for Christmas |
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The Selfish GiantVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
An attractive and relevant addition to the repertoire |
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A Little Night MusicVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Victorian Opera’s production satisfyingly portrays Sondheim’s witty insights into the sweetness and sorrow of the world |
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With a cast this fine, in a production this attractive, the result is fairly irresistible |
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The familiar pleasures of Sondheim’s masterpiece are refreshed by splendid performers and design |
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ParsifalVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
A compelling Parsifal from Victorian Opera in Melbourne |
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A musically excellent, perceptively designed and directed production of Wagner’s final opera |
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Fine performances in Victorian Opera’s Parsifal |
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LoreleiVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() ![]() |
This new commission gives an old story an entertaining makeover with style-hopping music, comedy and feminist attitude |
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Witty feminist telling of Lorelei legend has satirical light touch |
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Pelléas et MélisandeVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
Victorian Opera celebrates the centenary of Debussy’s death with an accomplished production of his only, highly enigmatic opera |
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I Capuleti e I MontecchiVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
Jessica Pratt and Caitlin Hulcup lead Victorian Opera’s fourth and final Bellini opera in concert with vocal and dramatic flair |
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Romeo and Juliet soar in VO's Bellini without the bells and whistles |
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Guillaume TellVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
Victorian Opera hits another bullseye with the tale of the apple and the arrow |
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The lynchpin of this performance was the mighty William Tell of Armando Noguera |
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Victorian Opera gives Rossini's final masterpiece its first Australian performance in more than a century |
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Victorian Opera has gone where other Australian companies fear to tread, and emerged all the better for it |
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William Tell technically misses mark but production, and son, survive |
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Hansel und GretelVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
Victorian Opera's Hansel and Gretel makes for delectable musical fare |
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The Magic PuddingVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
Fear not – this opera for kids is delicious! |
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The Black RiderVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
You're in for one hell of a ride – literally |
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Wonderfully cast and cunningly staged, this darkly humorous, musically eclectic fable disturbs and delights |
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Meow Meow holds all the cards and plays them to perfection |
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Tom Waits, William S Burroughs musical is beautiful but cold |
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Meow Meow steals the show in Black Rider |
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The Cunning Little VixenVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Victorian Opera's animal attraction a perfect addition to its repertoire |
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A cunning and colourful response to Janáček’s extraordinary score |
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Brimming with imaginative details, Victorian Opera’s beautifully realised staging of Cunning Little Vixen is a real charmer |
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La SonnambulaVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
Jessica Pratt was ideal in the lead role as Amina |
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Jessica Pratt could bring the house down in her sleep |
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Another unforgettable evening of bel canto brilliance showcasing superstar soprano Jessica Pratt |
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Energetic portrayal of a sleepwalker |
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Die Prinzessin auf der ErbseVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
Fast, furious, farcical and musically rewarding |
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La bella dormente nel boscoVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
A stunning production by Victorian Opera of a rarely performed Respighi treasure |
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A highly imaginative production audiences of all ages will love |
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Marvellously energetic and often hilarious performance |
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'Tis PityVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() ![]() |
Meow Meow, the strumpets shall sound |
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Really not bad, just possibly doesn't deliver its full potential |
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Four Saints in Three ActsVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
A perfectly understandable production of good clean gibberish |
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Ambitious project proves heaven sent |
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Lucia di LammermoorVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Jessica Pratt manages to live up to expectations in a production that's good, but rarely great |
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Jessica Pratt ascends vocal stratosphere in anaemic Victorian Opera show |
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Jessica Pratt gives outstanding performance in Lucia di Lammermoor for Victorian Opera |
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associated articles [+]
Jessica Pratt: "Nellie Melba deserves an opera house"
One of the world’s finest Lucias talks Donizetti’s mad masterpiece and why Melbourne needs a new venue.
One of the world’s finest Lucias talks Donizetti’s mad masterpiece and why Melbourne needs a new venue.
Voyage to the MoonVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
Highly acclaimed soprano Emma Matthews is magnificent as the incensed Orlando |
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Voyage to the Moon at Llewellyn Hall had balance problems |
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Borrowed plumes: a new pastiche Baroque opera in Sydney |
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A musically sublime but visually slight journey to Baroque heaven |
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A Post-Modern chamber operatic workshop which neither moved nor inspired |
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Victorian Opera and Musica Viva reach for the stars |
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A work that feels infinitely larger than the sum of its parts |
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Banquet of SecretsVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
A feast for the ears peppered with delicious performances, but an implausible plot leaves a sour taste |
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Steve Vizard and Paul Grabowsky make a meal of it for Victorian Opera |
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Performed with flair by a seasoned cast, the seemingly disparate friends create familiarity without feeling stereotyped |
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Die sieben TodsundenVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
Actually, make that sin-count 14, and throw in five composers |
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Sweeney ToddVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Teddy Tahu Rhodes' gravelly bass breaks new ground as demon barber |
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I PuritaniVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Pratt and Albelo a dream bel canto partnership in I puritani in Melbourne |
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Pure bel canto |
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I Puritani an impassioned and terrific one-off performance |
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Der Fliegende HolländerVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
Exciting, innovative 3D Dutchman from Victorian Opera |
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The whole aesthetic is kind of retrograde mid-Victorian |
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Opera buffs should rejoice in this eye-poppingly inventive production of Wagner’s 1843 opera |
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Victorian Opera’s 3-D Dutchman holds true to Wagner’s spirit |
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Victorian Opera enters a new dimension |
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associated articles [+]
Victorian Opera's Flying Dutchman sets sail in 3D
So what does a 3D opera look like? The Victorian Opera is trying to answer that question with their latest production "The Flying Dutchman".
So what does a 3D opera look like? The Victorian Opera is trying to answer that question with their latest production "The Flying Dutchman".
Opera glasses get digital makeover for The Flying Dutchman
Audiences at Victorian Opera's production will be required to don 3D specs in order to appreciate what's being billed as the world's first full-length opera to make use of digital 3D technology.
Audiences at Victorian Opera's production will be required to don 3D specs in order to appreciate what's being billed as the world's first full-length opera to make use of digital 3D technology.
The RidersVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Deserted father’s operatic odyssey |
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This is a bit of a miss, sadly, despite the best of intentions |
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An opera of rare dramatic power |
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associated articles [+]
Tim Winton's novel is now an opera with some new surprises
The Riders: The author gave librettist Alison Croggon and composer Iain Grandage free rein with his novel about unexplained loss.
The Riders: The author gave librettist Alison Croggon and composer Iain Grandage free rein with his novel about unexplained loss.
NormaVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Great voices and a concert setting helps make sense of plot |
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Spanish soprano thrills sell-out crowd in Bellini’s triumph |
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Soprano Saioa Hernandez soars in Victorian Opera's Norma |
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Saioa Hernández delivered a powerhouse performance in this evening of glorious bel canto music |
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Into the WoodsVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Victorian Opera wanders Into the Woods with Sondheim |
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Sondheim musical stalls in second half |
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A director who’s decided that the audience should feel as lost as the characters |
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The night belonged to Queenie Van De Zandt as the Witch, with a delightfully nuanced performance |
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La TraviataVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
The lavish world of 19th century salons in Paris is vividly depicted in this sumptuous production |
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Vocal pleasures and some real star turns, but too many mirrors reflect badly on Verdi's drama |
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La Traviata’s glory mirrored by Pratt |
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Verdi's La Traviata: on reflection, it's quite distracting |
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The Magic PuddingVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
It's an absolute joy of a production |
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Maria de Buenos AiresVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
A torturous text but there's much to admire in the telling of this torrid tale of the Argentinian underworld |
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Tango passion captures rhythm of life on the street |
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Much of the exotic beauty and mystical quality is masked by a stage that is too busy |
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Sunday in the Park with GeorgeVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() ![]() |
Making a pointillism on the creative process |
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Watching Sunday In The Park With George is like peeking inside artist George Seurat's mind |
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Nixon in ChinaVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
If you want to experience one of the more accessible modern operas, choose Nixon In China |
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John Adams’ masterpiece is done full justice |
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Nixon In China an accessible modern opera |
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Victorian Opera triumph gives history life on stage |
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Le nozze di FigaroVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() ![]() |
There's some fine singing by a mostly young Melbourne cast |
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Midnight SonVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
It is difficult to understand why this story was ever chosen to be staged |
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All up, Midnight Son is an ambitious work that deserves to be seen |
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The Rake's ProgressVictorian OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
The production seems to sit uneasily between allegory and the formal constraints of opera and modernity |
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Quibbles aside there is much to like in this production |
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A devilishly pleasing journey into madness |
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Performance schedule
Respighi
20 to 26 Feb 2021
March
17 to 20 Mar 2021
Bruckard
17 to 20 Mar 2021
Bizet
23 Apr 2021
Cheetham
12 Jun 2021
Various
29 Jun to 2 Jul 2021
Meale
4 Aug 2021
Townshend
13 to 21 Aug 2021
Mills
13 to 16 Nov 2021
Schubert
19 to 20 Nov 2021
Nicolai
3 to 4 Dec 2021
News & Articles
Victorian Opera announces its 2021 season |
Next year will see the long-awaited return of Richard Meale’s Voss, as well as four world premieres by Australian composers. |
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Despite dramas - and a pandemic - Victorian Opera plays on |
CEO Elizabeth Hill-Cooper says they have salvaged two productions from the canned 2020 season for 2021: a Youth Opera production of Schubert's The Friends of Salamanca and The Who's rock opera Tommy. The rest is all new. |
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Victorian Opera offers Wagner, Sondheim in 2019 program |
Victorian Opera’s 2019 season follows a similar structure to what we have seen in recent years; two staged operas, a concert, new Australian composition and works for children. |
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Victorian Opera one step closer to becoming major company |
Already focused on becoming an opera company for the 21st century, Victorian Opera will soon move into a new state-of-the-art facility in West Melbourne. |
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Victorian Opera's 2018 season announced |
Victorian Opera's 2018 season brings William Tell to the Australian stage for the first time. |
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