The Pearl Fishers at Melbourne Opera

By Paul Selar, 22 September 2014

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“a welcome breeze in Abrahmsen’s performance energized the drama immensely”

Reviewed at Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne on 19 September 2014

Bizet, Les Pêcheurs de perles

Melbourne Opera

Richard Divall, Conductor

Hugh Halliday, Director

Daniel Harvey, Set Designer

Lee Abrahmsen, Leïla

Brenton Spiteri, Nadir

Philip Calcagno, Zurga

Eddie Muliaumaseali'i, Nourabad

A stunning Meistersinger from Melbourne Opera

Sandra Bowdler, 16th February

After its Bendigo Ring, Melbourne Opera brings off another artistic coup with a fabulous performance of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in Melbourne's splendid Royal Exhibition Building.

*****

Götterdämmerung triumphantly crowns the all-Australian Bendigo Ring

Sandra Bowdler, 2nd April

Melbourne Opera maintains the high standard of its all-Australian endeavour to the very end in a triumphant Götterdämmerung.

*****

Under the dragon's eye: Melbourne Opera's Ring continues in Bendigo

Sandra Bowdler, 31st March

Melbourne Opera's Siegfried continues the dramatic excitement and first class singing of it predessors in the Bendigo Ring cycle, including a great performance of the title role by Bradley Daley.

*****

Stunning Walküre in Melbourne Opera's Ring cycle in Bendigo

Sandra Bowdler, 26th March

Melbourne Opera's Walküre outdoes expectations, with really splendid singing and all-round performances, led by Lee Abrahmsen's Sieglinde.

*****

Das Rheingold in Gold Rush Bendigo

Sandra Bowdler, 24th March

A strong opener to Melbourne Opera's all-Australian complete Ring, the first to be performed outside a state capital, in the regional Victorian city of Bendigo.

****1

A marvellous Walküre from Melbourne Opera

Brian Angus, 9th February

Melbourne Opera have done a magnificent job with this Die Walküre production. Everything about it has succeeded. And maybe in Zara Barrett they have discovered a new Brünnhilde.

*****

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Paul Selar

Also known as 'OperaChaser', Paul's passion for attending opera in performance spans 30 years. With a background in architecture and an unstoppable need to travel, Paul's foray into the world of reviewing started as Opera Australia's inaugural Critic-in-Training. He currently blogs at operachaser.blogspot.com.au.