At a special midday concert today at the Sydney Opera House, Opera Australia announced details of its 2015 season, consolidating the recent success in building audiences, with a program that is uniquely audience focused.
Performances by Emma Matthews, José Carbó, Diego Torre, Jacqueline Dark, Jane Ede, Kate Miller-Heidke and Iain Grandage whet the appetite of the launch audience.
OA's artistic director Lyndon Terracini underlined how the OA is clear in its aim to grow audiences with masterpieces of opera and music theatre; the program for the year ahead is highly accessible, with a roster of artists at the top of their game.
The main operatic fare includes La Boheme, The Magic Flute, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Faust, Turandot, La Traviata, Don Carlos and The Marriage of Figaro.
Bringing these masterpieces to life are some very special international artists, including Yonghoon Lee, Giorgio Caoduro, Alexia Voulgaridou, who now include OA in their regular performing circuit.
Joining these international artists, are Australia’s own home-grown talents, including Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Nicole Car, who continue to flourish.
A dazzling line up of international singers, including Michael Fabiano, Ferruccio Furlanetto,Lise Lindstrom, Anna Pirozzi will make their OA debut in 2015.
A feature of the season is the return of acclaimed Scottish director Sir David McIvar who will direct three productions: Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro and Faust.
New initiatives stud the 2015 season including an original work by Kate Miller-Heidke, called The Rabbits based on the book by John Marsden and artist Shaun Tan.
And as has been its habit over the past few season, OA dips into the musicals world with Anything Goes in collaboration with John Frost, which will tour nationally throughout the year.
The now annual Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will also grow into a four-week season over Easter with its grandest opera yet - a brand new production of the grand spectacle, Aida, which Mr Terracini says will include an incredible finale.
If that's not enough to stir excitement then a 'hit parade' of opera classics should get audiences whistling: Nessun dorma in Turandot; Signore, ascolta! in Turandot; Un bel di Vedremo in Madama Butterfly; Vissi d’arte in Tosca; Te Deum in Tosca; Brindisi in La Traviata; The Soldiers’ Chorus in Faust; Song of the Golden Calf in Faust; Marguerite’s Jewel Song in Faust; The Triumphal March in Aida; Celesta Aida in Aida; Porgi amor in The Marriage of Figaro; Plus It’s De-Lovely and I Get a Kick Out of You in Anything Goes.