Of art and genius: exceptional world premiere of Whiteley in Sydney

By Chantal Nguyen, 17 July 2019

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“Melrose's portrayal is intense and self-consumingly ferocious... he carries this opera compellingly”

Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney on 15 July 2019

Kats-Chernin, Whiteley

Opera Australia

Tahu Matheson, Conductor

David Freeman, Director

Dan Potra, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Leigh Melrose, Brett Whiteley

Julie Lea Goodwin, Wendy Whiteley

Natasha Green, Younger Arkie Whiteley

Kate Amos, Older Arkie Whiteley

Dominica Matthews, Beryl Whiteley

Richard Anderson, Joel Elenberg

Nicholas Jones, Dark Figure/Michael Driscoll

Gregory Brown, Patrick White

Annabelle Chaffey, Queen

Alexander Hargreaves, Robert Hughes

Tomas Dalton, Bryan Robertson

Jonathan Alley, John Rothenstein

Brad Cooper, Frank Lloyd

Leah Thomas, Anna Schwartz

Ruth Strutt, Biennale Judge

Celeste Lazarenko, Fijian Backpacker

Sitiveni Talei, Fijian Police Officer

Angela Hogan, Janice

Opera Australia Chorus

Opera Australia Orchestra

John Rayment, Lighting Designer

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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Chantal Nguyen

Chantal has a background in ballet and contemporary dance, and was the first Australian to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Higher Level Dance. She has completed violin studies, and plays regularly in Sydney ensembles. She also dabbles in folk songs and subversive musical parody.