Mini-Opera Festival

Abbotsford Convent is alive with The Sounds of Music.

Spring has sprung and The Opera School Melbourne is bringing the joyful sounds of dynamic young singers performing short operatic treats at Abbotsford Convent on the weekend of October 23/24.

 

The weekend features a fabulous mix of short operas and master classes with opera experts.

 

Kicking off proceedings at 12 noon on Saturday 23 October is Figatroll, a pacy little opera for anyone from 2 to 102. With glorious music from Rossini and a nod to the story of the three Billy Goats Gruff, this 50-minute show is an ideal introduction to opera, and a nostalgia trip for aficionados who love Rossini.

 

At 1pm the first master class begins, conducted by Artistic Director of The Opera School Melbourne, Linda Thompson, with Head of Music Andrea Katz and students. Peek behind the scenes and see what really happens on a day-to-day basis at The Opera School. It’s a chance to observe the refining, polishing and performing of arias. Normally, seeing all this is behind closed doors, but Festival Goers will be able to be part of this fascinating world as they watch the master class.

 

Following at 3 pm is a master class with a difference – ever wondered what it takes to be a professional opera chorus member? MTO Artistic director, David Kram, will give the lowdown on the rigors of chorus singing, before workshopping famous opera choruses with Opera School Melbourne singers. The walls of the Convent will be ringing with the sounds of great voices bringing well-loved choruses to life.

 

Sunday gives you a chance to go to four operas in just one day! Starting at 1.45, The Opera School Melbourne singers will present Samuel Barber’s ultra short opera A Hand of Bridge. During a game of bridge, two couples reveal their secret thoughts and fantasies – and it’s all done in just nine minutes.

 

Gian Carlo Menotti’s fascinating opera The Old Maid & The Thief is next. Written as an opera for radio in 1939, it’s a stranger-danger tale for grown-ups, a twisted tale of morals and ‘evil’ womanly power! Both operas are directed and designed by the Opera School Melbourne’s Resident Director, Cameron Menzies.

 

At 3.30 pm Cimarosa’s short opera The Maestro takes the stage - enjoy the ride as a pompous maestro rehearses his opera. Accompanied by the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra it’s directed by Greg Eldridge.

 

Completing this lavish operatic festival is Handel’s beautiful Acis and Galatea, his first dramatic work in English. It’s a sensual, tragic but humorous tale of Ovid’s water nymph Galatea and her doomed love for the Arcadian shepherd Acis, and is semi-staged by Cameron Menzies.

 

So whether you are new to opera or a regular subscriber, there is something for everyone in this very special Mini Opera Festival from The Opera School Melbourne. Booking information is available at http://www.theoperaschool.com.au