OBSERVER: Opera Australia’s Gala
Opera Australia’s 70th Anniversary Gala began with the popular William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini, led by internationally acclaimed conductor Giampaolo Bisanti.
Maestro Bisanti was pure joy to watch. His expressive and enthusiastic style had the audience fervently bouncing along with the well-known finale. It was like watching a fine ballet dancer in action.
The sumptuous majesty of the Regent Theatre was the perfect venue for such an auspicious occasion. This royal theatre will be celebrating its own 100th anniversary later this year.
The Opera Australia principals displayed their dramatic and comedic talents in the thrilling Ecco il birbo from Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the witty, humorous Dite, chi e quella Femmina from Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri.
They also amazed us with such technical skill and prowess, following conductor Sam Weller, who took this at an exhausting, rollicking pace.
The Opera Australia chorus charmed us with their perfectly balanced, exquisitely executed Va Pensiero from Verdi’s Nabucco, following Bisanti’s intense dynamic contrasts.
Following two impressive Verdi ensembles, The Smugglers Quintet from Bizet’s Carmen, provided some lighter, familiar tunes to tap along to.
My personal highlight was the opening of Act Two, the blood-curdling battle cries of Opera Australia’s strong women’s chorus in Wagner’s The Ride of the Valkyries from the opera Die Walkure.
One needs a big theatre, a big pit and big voices to accommodate this formidable work of art.
Emma Matthews, Australia’s most highly awarded soprano, delighted us with a mesmerising delivery of The Nightingale’s Song from The Love Of the Nightingale by Australian conductor and composer Richard Mills.
Tenor Diego Torre received rousing applause for his powerful Nessun Dorma, a favourite with the audience.
Award-winning, talented Sam Weller, one of the designated winners of the International Conducting Competition in Rotterdam, returned to conduct the profoundly demanding Old Joe has Gone Fishing with prodigious skill and aplomb.
The magnificent evening concluded with The Toreador Song, the Triumphal Scene from Aida and the William Tell Finale.
Review by Lucy Nicolson