The next opera on Sydney Harbour will be a musical

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 5 years ago

The next opera on Sydney Harbour will be a musical

By Nathanael Cooper

According to Opera Australia boss Lyndon Terracini, if Leonard Bernstein were alive today he would make a classic Sydneysider.

"He was open, loud, really receptive to new ideas, wanting to try new things," Terracini said of the acclaimed Broadway composer.

Terracini will be hoping Sydneysiders reflect his vision of Bernstein with the news that Opera Australia's next Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is not, in fact, an opera at all, but one of Bernstein's most beloved musicals.

Francesca Zambello has previously directed a floating production of West Side Story in Europe.

Francesca Zambello has previously directed a floating production of West Side Story in Europe.Credit: Reuters

After drawing from the classic opera stock of productions like La Traviata, Carmen and La Boheme since the opera-on-a-floating-stage concept was introduced in 2012, audiences in 2019 will see West Side Story.

"The repertoire has been the core repertoire that opera companies do, albeit in a really unique setting," Terracini said.

"Now we can start to take a few different risks and program things differently."

Terracini batted away criticism of the opera company's move towards more populist content like musicals, pointing to the strength of ticket sales for the yearly musical that has become a tradition as evidence that the decision was the right one.

"The extraordinary thing is there has been some criticism but it is from a very small number of people," he said.

Advertisement

"Every year we have the musical in our subscription season and our subscribers love those musicals and they certainly love coming to see them."

Julie Lea Goodwin will play Maria.

Julie Lea Goodwin will play Maria.

The decision to add another musical to the company's season isn't the only controversy the company is likely to face with West Side story. The casting is also likely to come under scrutiny.

West Side Story's original storyline focuses on a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story where an all-American boy, Tony, falls in love with a Puerto Rican immigrant girl, Maria.

The role of Tony will be played by Alexander Lewis, who has performed in a number of operas for Opera Australia, as well as Raoul in the last Australian tour of The Phantom of the Opera.

The role of Maria will be played by Julie Lea Goodwin, a caucasian soprano who also played the role in the last Australian tour of West Side Story.

Earlier this year in London, caucasian actress Sierra Boggess pulled out of a concert production of West Side Story after accusations of 'white washing' were levelled against her.

At the time she said she realised if she didn't withdraw from the production it would "deny Latinas the opportunity to sing this score as well as deny the importance of seeing themselves represented on stage".

It is the second time in recent years Opera Australia has been accused of ignoring diverse casting after Teddy Tahu Rhodes was cast as the Thai king Mongkut in the company's 2013 production of The King and I.

Terracini indicated the way director Francesca Zambello, who previously directed a production of the show on a floating stage, would tackle this piece might take race out of the picture.

"It is about finding the best people that you possibly can and delivering the best possible production," he said. "Traditionally that has been the case (that Maria is Puerto Rican).

"But it depends on the direction, we might have a few surprises in this production."

The decision to put a musical into the opera company's highly commercial and hugely popular outdoor season is part of a broader move by the company to do things differently.

The Opera on the Harbour series is incredibly popular with opera audiences.

The Opera on the Harbour series is incredibly popular with opera audiences.Credit: Fairfax Media

Beyond the introduction of music theatre into the fold, this year the company will present a production of Verdi's soaring 1871 opera, Aida, with an entirely digital set.

A collection of gigantic, mobile, LED screens will feature a range of digital designs in place of traditional set pieces and backdrops.

But Terracini denies it is an effort to drag opera audiences kicking and screaming into the 21st century, and more of a move to remain relevant.

"Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour was part of being relevant, doing musicals is also part of being relevant, it has all been part of the mix," he said.

"The digital productions we are doing, it is really part of trying to make sure, as an arts organisation that has often been criticised for being out of touch, that we remain relevant.

"But even more importantly that we remain true to the audiences, to the people who buy tickets, which they are doing."

West Side Story will play the purpose built harbour stage from March 22 to April 21.

Tickets are on sale now at opera.org.au.

Most Viewed in Culture

Loading