La Bohème launches Opera Australia’s 2019 season
with a stellar cast of the world’s finest singers
Puccini | Directed by Gale Edwards | Conducted by Benjamin Northey | Nicholas Milton | Dane Lam
December 31, 2018 – March 28, 2019 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Starring | Joyce El-Khoury| Maija Kovalevska| Ivan Magrì | Anna Princeva | Diego Torre
Opera Australia welcomes back to the Joan Sutherland Theatre, one of its most popular productions and one of the world’s all-time favourite operas, Puccini’s La Bohème.
Opening on New Year’s Eve, La Bohème continues to delight audiences with its lush sets and costumes, soaring music and heady mix of comedy and tragedy.
This Sydney season features a dynamic melting pot of local and international talent, many making their Opera Australia debuts such as sought-after Canadian-Lebanese soprano Joyce El-Khoury. Considered to be a young Maria Callas, El-Khoury makes her highly anticipated Australian debut in the celebrated role of Mimì.
Sharing the star role of Mimì is renowned Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska who will bring her poignancy and grace to this role, which she has played to great acclaim on some of the world’s finest stages, including The Met in New York and Opera Australia’s famous overwater stage in the 2018 Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.
Also making his debut is Italian tenor Ivan Magrì playing the role of the naïve Rodolfo. Rapidly gaining a reputation as a leading tenor across the globe, and taught by the late great Luciano Pavarotti, Magrì is sought-after by some of the biggest opera houses in the business, including Royal Opera House Covent Garden, The Bolshoi, and Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.
Sharing the role of Rodolfo is Australia’s favourite tenor, Diego Torre, who will bring the “richness and power” (Sydney Morning Herald) of his famous voice to the role.
The all-star cast also includes incredibly talented Australia’s singers, Julie Lea Goodwin, Lorina Gore, Samuel Dundas, Luke Gabbedy, David Parkin, Shane Lowrencev, Graeme Macfarlane and more.
Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini is thrilled to be presenting such a universally loved production to the summer audiences.
“La Bohème has proved to be an incredible drawcard over summer, especially to visitors wanting to have a quintessential Sydney Opera House experience, it’s an opera that delivers on so many levels, it’s visually stunning, it’s moving, and has the most beautiful music” he said.
Conducted by a trio of talented Australians who have all achieved success overseas, Opera Australia is delighted to welcome home Benjamin Northey, Nicholas Milton and Dane Lam.
The inspiration behind the musical Rent, Puccini’s classic continues to captivate audiences with its soaring music, lush sets, beautiful costumes and heady mix of comedy and tragedy. This glittering production set in the chaos of street fairs and burlesque bars of 1930’s Berlin, provides the perfect setting for the heart-wrenching love story, filled with the familiar arias of Puccini’s most famous opera.
| Creatives Conductor Benjamin Northey (31 Dec- 12 Jan), Nicholas Milton (17 Jan-8 Feb), Dane Lam (16-28 March) Director Gale Edwards Revival Director Hugh Halliday Set Designer Brian Thomson Costume Designer Julie Lynch Lighting Designer John Rayment Assistant Director Liesel Badorrek |
| Cast Mimì Joyce El-Khoury (Jan 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19) Maija Kovalevska (Jan 2, 4, 9, 11, 21, 23, 31; Feb 2– Mar 28) Rodolfo Ivan Magrì (Jan 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19), Diego Torre (Jan 2, 4, 9, 11, 21, 23, 31; Feb 2-Mar 28) Musetta Anna Princeva (Jan 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19, 21, 23), Julie Lea Goodwin (Jan 2, 4, 9, 11, 31; Feb 2, 5, 8), Lorina Gore (Mar 16-28) Marcello Samuel Dundas (Jan 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19, 21, 23), Luke Gabbedy (Jan 2, 4, 9, 11, 31; Feb 2-Mar 28) Colline Taras Berezhansky (Jan 2-12), David Parkin (Jan 17-Mar 28) Schaunard Shane Lowrencev Benoît Graeme Macfarlane Alcindoro Andrew Moran Officer Clifford Plumpton Sergeant Malcolm Ede Parpignol Nara Lee (Jan 2-12), Benjamin Rasheed (Jan 17-Mar 28) Opera Australia Chorus |
| Performance informationEvenings at 7.30pm January 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 21, 23, 31; February 2, 5, 8; March 20, 22, 25, 28 Saturday Matinees at 1.00pm March 16 |
| Running time Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes including one interval. Performed in Italian with English surtitles. Please note this production contains partial nudity. |
| Bookings Adult tickets from $47 (fees may apply) Group and concession prices available for most performances. Student Rush available for most performances: $50 (fees may apply) Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200 www.opera.org.au Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House |
