OBSERVER: Opera Australia
It was a celebration of Opera Australia reaching 70 years of performance of a wide ranging repertoire of treasured Operas and many revered theatre musicals.
And what better place than the iconic Regent Theatre for a once off celebration performance, accompanied by Orchestra Victoria and sung by a host of Australia’s best and outstanding musical theatre performers.
Orchestra Victoria, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian Ballet is the principal performance partner for both the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia and under Vanessa Scammell’s baton the Orchestra started the Encore performance with a vibrant overture of a mix of well known gems of musical theatre.
Six musical theatre performers either as soloists or duets treated us to the many showstopper hits from past musicals beginning with South Pacific’s I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair sung with great feeling by Ashleigh Rubenach (Sunset Boulevard) who later paired with Jarrod Draper (Cats) for an emotional intensive All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera.
Leading lady in many musicals Caroline O’Connor (Anything Goes and Chicago) hit the stage firstly with Send in the Clowns from A Little Light Music, before many more memorable songs particularly her physical and vibrant rendition of Anything Goes, before a showstopper in Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. Sung with great passion and a strong feeling of emotion that brought tumultuous applause.
Versatile Baritone Raphael Wong (Phantom of the Opera and Sister Act) demonstrated his vocal power and range with Phantom’s Music of the Night and My Fair Lady’s I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.
Nigel Huckle (Miss Saigon and Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Abigail Adriano (Hadestown and Miss Saigon) both provided us with nostalgic moments with renditions of favourites from such musicals as West Side Story, Miss Saigon and Cinderella.
To end the Encore performance the full cast combined for a stirring performance from Guys and Dolls of Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat which brought many in the audience to their feet. A night to remember as part of Opera Australia’s 70th Year Anniversary celebrations.
Review by Graeme McCoubrie

