Writhing snakes and nodding panthers: Opera Australia revives Aida

Aida, Act 2 finale

Elena Gabouri (Amneris)

Najmiddin Mavlyanov (Radamès), Roberto Scandiuzzi (Ramfis) and Opera Australia Chorus and dancers

Aida, Act 4 finale

Leah Crocetto (Aida)

By Zoltán Szabó, 22 June 2023

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“Leah Crocetto... presented subtle dynamic contrasts in her effortless and refined soprano”

Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney on 19 June 2023

Verdi, Aida

Opera Australia

Lorenzo Passerini, Conductor

Davide Livermore, Director

Giò Forma, Set Designer

Gianluca Falaschi, Costume Designer

John Rayment, Lighting Designer

Opera Australia Orchestra

Opera Australia Chorus

Shaun Rennie, Revival Director

Leah Crocetto, Aida

Elena Gabouri, Amneris

Najmiddin Mavlyanov, Radamès

Warwick Fyfe, Amonasro

Roberto Scandiuzzi, Ramfis

David Parkin, King of Egypt

Jane Ede, Priestess

Thomas Strong, A messenger

Opera Australia’s Eugene Onegin shines musically

Sandra Bowdler, 17th March

Eugene Onegin returns to the Sydney Opera house in Kasper Holten’s slightly awkward production but the singing and orchestral playing are exemplary.

****1

Humperdinck hobbled in Opera Australia revival

Jeremy Eccles, 27th January

Elijah Moshinsky’s 33-year-old production of Hansel and Gretel hasn’t aged well.

***11

A psychological Turandot in Ann Yee's Opera Australia staging

Sandra Bowdler, 15th January

Opera Australia's new Turandot succeeds with musical, dramatic and visual values with a mix of local and imported talent.

****1

Siobhan Stagg leads a strong Marriage of Figaro revival in Sydney

Sandra Bowdler, 31st July

Siobhan Stagg is an outstanding Susanna in a strongly cast and well produced Marriage of Figaro at the Sydney Opera House

****1

Watery magic as Nicole Car makes a triumphant return to Sydney

Jeremy Eccles, 19th July

Nicole Car makes her role debut as Dvořák's Rusalka in a production by Sarah Giles that proves a winner.

****1

Danielle de Niese makes Carmen debut in a colourful new Sydney staging

Sandra Bowdler, 10th July

Danielle de Niese's assumes the title role at the Sydney Opera House, leading an impressive cast with an interesting approach to characterisation with a somewhat over the top blingy setting.

****1

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Zoltán Szabó

Zoltán Szabó is a cellist and musicologist. Having migrated from his native Hungary to Australia in 1985, he worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney until 1991, when he became Principal Cello with Opera Australia. In 2017, he was awarded with a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD). Currently, he is teaching music history and musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Writhing snakes and nodding panthers: Opera Australia revives digital Aida