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Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall6 November 2015

S E V E N D E A D L Y S I N S

D I E S I E B E N T O D S Ü N D E N

J U L I A N L A N G D O N , M A R K V I G G I A N I , J E S S I C A W E L L S & I A N W H I T N E Y

K U R T W E I L L & B E R T O L T B R E C H T

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W E L C O M EVictorian Opera has turned ten!Tonight your state opera company celebrates with new works by emerging composers, showcasing our bright young stars, alongside Berliner Kabarett with a devilish diva. To everyone past and present who has come on this journey, our audience, our supporters, our artists, the State Government of Victoria, our Artistic Director Richard Mills, our Founding Music Director Richard Gill, our board and staff, we give our heartfelt thanks.

In 2016, we continue to present opera without boundaries. Join us and experience our season of different dreams.

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R I C H A R D M I L L SA R T I S T I C D I R E C T O R ' S M E S S A G E

The vicarious contemplation of sin has always been a fascinating pastime for humanity. From the Book of Genesis, the spy thriller or the murder mystery to the circles of hell in Dante's Inferno, the notion of evil-doing and its pageant of consequent causality as a kind of perverse spectator sport has had a continuing potency as a basis for story - in all media.

Under the care of two young talented ringmasters, director Cameron Menzies and conductor Tahu Matheson, tonight's spectacle draws on this tradition from across three worlds: our own country and the perceived foibles of its capital cities as images of corruption - the "seven teeming sores" of poet A.D.Hope, and the ironic satire of Brecht and Weill, two Europeans locating the deadly sins in Memphis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and San Francisco.

The notion of Australian cities as emblems for the deadly sins is a fertile blueprint for creative response. It has proved to be an interesting idea on which to base a co-operatively made new work and provide an opportunity for four young Australian composers to create a companion piece to a classic via their own text and music. Julian Langdon, Mark Viggiani, Jessica Wells and Ian Whitney were allocated two sins each (Julian, a sin, a prologue and an epilogue). The cameos were developed by a process of workshops at Victorian Opera and an orchestral workshop as part of the Tasmania Symphony Orchestra's Composer Development Program.

What has surprised, delighted and occasionally disconcerted is the complete unpredictability of each composer's response to the given brief. The involvement of our young artists has also added a dimension of possibilities for feedback and artistic growth.

In Die Sieben Todsünden, Brecht's text is satirical. When Anna tries to behave morally, she is scolded by her alter ego and her family for committing one of the seven sins. Meow Meow brings her own sultry "weltschmerz" to proceedings here. The Antipodes hold no such complex, world-weary attitude. Here we revel in our sins with gusto and enthusiasm. Enjoy.

Richard Mills Artistic Director, Victorian Opera

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T A H U M A T H E S O NC O N D U C T O R ' S M E S S A G E

As most other people, my first contact with the music of Kurt Weill was the ballad Mack the Knife - an amazingly evocative song that has the ability to co-opt us gently, seductively and effortlessly into a seamy netherworld. This song is, of course, only the most minuscule part of Weill's work, and, starting with the Weill-Brecht collaborations, I began to discover his other works. I was absolutely captivated.

Weill's famous comment that he had 'never acknowledged the difference between serious music and light music, only good music and bad music', was like an apologia for his own work. The ability to find meaning in candid simplicity was an idea that thrilled and influenced many composers, and is something that still resonates powerfully in today’s over-complicated, over-stimulated world. A new interest in simple melody, folk song and even popular culture began to influence music that had been subjugated to the powerfully enthralling hold of Wagnerian chromaticism and philosophical complication.

Die Sieben Todsünden is a piece that, though harmonically quite complex, constantly uses immediately recognisable and simple musical forms (admittedly through a lens of questioning irony and piercing satiric wit!). Barbershop quartets, marches, waltzes and ballads, sometimes simply constructed, sometimes grotesquely transformed, shape this piece into a brilliantly satirical take on the conventional idea of sin. Weill's virtuosic orchestration, superb melodic invention and sure dramatic instinct propel us through the work, and inspire in us a certain delectation that perhaps we would rather not admit to…

A musical framework which interweaves canonical works and newly minted pieces always makes for interesting listening, but the idea of juxtaposing a single masterpiece against a reimagining of the same subject matter is, I think, something very unusual, and something that I have found to be completely fascinating.

Learning these extremely accomplished, inventive, surprising, and, at times, genuinely beautiful compositions has been interesting and intriguing. The pieces are quite different: each of the brilliant young composers has a definite style (not an easy thing to come by), an individual way of dealing with the orchestra and a unique use of harmony. The works are filled with pastiche, parody, comedy, wit, beauty and virtuosity. Together they make a compelling and engaging whole that promises to be as entertaining as it is fascinating.

Tahu Matheson Conductor

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C A M E R O N M E N Z I E SD I R E C T O R ' S M E S S A G E

Directing Seven Deadly Sins for Victorian Opera has been filled with many great joys. I have had the all too rare opportunity to work again with my dear friend and colleague, the incomparable star herself Meow Meow and then if that wasn’t enough, another friend and long time collaborator, the highly acclaimed couture designer Linda Britten agreed to come on board to design costumes for the ladies in the new commission and for Meow Meow in the well loved Weill/Brecht creation.

Even though both halves were composed for very different reasons and in seemingly different times, the themes that surround all seven of the deadly sins bring an unnerving darkness and a satirical world that one can delve into.

The first half looking at Australia in 2015 through the sins of its capital cities takes us into a strange and somewhat nationalistic journey around this vast island where we explore things like the Lust of Sydney, the Greed of Melbourne and the Anger of Perth.

Simply put, the second half takes us into the world of the two Annas. They have been sent away from their home and are struggling to survive, whilst trying to still provide for their family who are back at home. Written by two exiled Germans in 1933, who could no longer call Berlin their home, they write a piece that premiered in France but is set in America. These facts alone lead me to explore the ideas around survival, the search for a new home and safe passage to it.

The opportunity to direct Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s Die Sieben Todsünden (their last major collaboration together) is certainly a career highlight. I have always had a very strong love for the works of Weill and Brecht and for the period of history in which such works were being written. I am also thrilled to be able to premiere another new work in 2015 commissioned by Richard Mills for Victorian Opera. This is again a wonderful opportunity to create something unique.

Cameron Menzies Director

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A N D R E W S N E L LM A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R ' S M E S S A G E

Welcome to an evening of temptation and musical gluttony: Victorian Opera’s final offering for our 2015 Season, Seven Deadly Sins.

In this devilish double bill, Victorian Opera revisits the work of Weill and Brecht with their final collaboration Die Sieben Todsünden. We’re thrilled to welcome the sensationally talented Meow Meow in her debut with Victorian Opera.

As a partner to this iconic work, we present a new commission, supported by the Composer Development Program at the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Services International. Four of the country’s brightest composers, Julian Langdon, Mark Viggiani, Jessica Wells and Ian Whitney, have reimagined the Seven Deadly Sins inspired by seven of Australia’s major cities.

Tonight marks the graduating performance of our Master of Music (Opera Performance) students, a unique collaboration between Victorian Opera and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University

of Melbourne. Following two years of performing on our stages, working in our rehearsal rooms, receiving individual coaching and master classes and touring regionally and interstate (all the while studying at the University of Melbourne), these young artists are now perfectly placed to take the next step in their burgeoning professional careers.

Their graduation, however, also marks the end of the program after two intakes over the last four years. Due to the discontinuation of program-specific Government funding, the cost of providing a course of this scale has become unfeasible for our company. While remaining committed to reinstating a Masters program in future years, Victorian Opera will implement a Professional Development Program in 2016; where emerging talent will work and study with the company and feature in our productions. Victorian Opera’s unswerving commitment to the future of our art form remains just as strong at the end of our 10th season as it did when the company was conceived in 2005.

Victorian Opera is able to continue doing such important work thanks to its many supporters. The company would like to acknowledge the generous assistance of the State Government of Victoria through Creative Victoria, The Robert Salzer Foundation, our philanthropic supporters; especially our Artistic Director’s Circle and New Work Syndicate, and our many corporate partners.

With this support, Victorian Opera is able to continue its important work as a state icon and a national leader.

Andrew Snell Managing Director, Victorian Opera

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G A R Y M C P H E R S O ND I R E C T O R , M E L B O U R N E C O N S E R V A T O R I U M O F M U S I C

Welcome to the graduating performance of our Master of Music (Opera Performance) students.

Chosen from over 70 applicants from Australia and overseas in 2013, they represent some of the nation’s most promising operatic talent. They have been working hard over the past two years in the demanding components of this unique graduate program and we are excited to share the results with you.

The relationship between the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) and our partner Victorian Opera provides developing artists with the opportunity to become established members of a professional opera company.

The comprehensive program includes intensive vocal and performance training with Victorian Opera and MCM, language and diction studies

with the University’s Faculty of Arts and music electives with MCM lecturers. It is this partnership from some of Australia’s education and industry leaders that sets this program apart.

The vision and support of the State Government through Creative Victoria for the program has been vital to its creation and success. The first artists to graduate in 2013 have already brought their considerable skills to local, national and international opera companies, and we look forward to similar successes from this company of performers you see tonight.

To our friends at the Victorian Opera, its Artistic Director Richard Mills and dedicated staff, I say a warm thank you. The professional knowledge and expertise that you share with the students on a daily basis is fundamental to this program’s success.

Tonight is the first opportunity that many of you will have had to enjoy this talented group of young artists but it also marks the end of a chapter for our students. We wish them well in their future endeavours and we thank their families and friends who have provided support and care over the past two years.

I hope you enjoy the performance.

Professor Gary McPherson Ormond Chair of Music and Director, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne

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6 November 2015 Arts Centre Melbourne Hamer Hall

Running time approximately 1 hour 50 minutes with one 20 minute interval.

Acknowledgements

Resolution X, Norwest Productions, The Team at LB, Sounds Solo, Darren Cooper, Show Works.

Commissions supported by Symphony Services International and the Composer Development Program of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Surtitles provided by The Kurt Weill Foundation For Music and translated by Michael Feingold.

Creative Team

Conductor Tahu Matheson

Director, Production Concept & Design Cameron Menzies

Lighting Designer Joseph Mercurio

Costume Designer Linda Britten

Sound Designer Jim Atkins

Production Coordinator Luke Hales

Technical Coordinator Peter Darby

Stage Manager Andrea Corish

Head Mechanist Kieran Santoso

Repetiteurs Phoebe Briggs, Phillipa Safey, Simon Bruckard*

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Prologue

Composer Julian Langdon

Cast Kate Amos*, Nathan Lay*, Elizabeth Lewis*, Emma Muir-Smith*, Michael Petruccelli*, Cristina Russo*, Matthew Tng*

Hobart/Envy

Composer Mark Viggiani

Cast Mr Zee Michael Petruccelli Prince Alfredo Matthew Tng Maria Kate Amos Benita Elizabeth Lewis Katya Emma Muir-Smith

S E V E N D E A D L Y S I N SP R O D U C T I O N

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Adelaide/Gluttony

Composer Julian Langdon

Cast Bob Michael Petruccelli Gustus Nathan Lay

Brisbane/Sloth

Composer Ian Whitney

Cast Milton’s Angel Cristina Russo Pete Nathan Lay Joh Matthew Tng

Melbourne/Greed

Composer Jessica Wells

Cast Kate Amos, Nathan Lay, Elizabeth Lewis, Emma Muir-Smith, Michael Petruccelli, Cristina Russo, Matthew Tng

Canberra/Pride

Composer Jessica Wells

Cast Commentator 1 Kate Amos Commentator 2 Emma Muir-Smith Commentator 3 Elizabeth Lewis Julia Gillard Cristina Russo John Howard Matthew Tng Tony Abbott Nathan Lay Kevin Rudd Michael Petruccelli

Perth/Anger

Composer Mark Viggiani

Cast Rosanna Elizabeth Lewis Gianina Cristina Russo Mr Big Nathan Lay

Sydney/Lust

Composer Ian Whitney

Cast Helene Elizabeth Lewis Lotte Kate Amos Marianne Emma Muir-Smith Anna Cristina Russo Fred Matthew Tng Kurt Nathan Lay Julian Michael Petruccelli

Epilogue

Composer Julian Langdon

Cast Kate Amos, Nathan Lay, Elizabeth Lewis, Emma Muir-Smith, Michael Petruccelli, Cristina Russo, Matthew Tng

*Students from the Master of Music (Opera Performance), presented in partnership with Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne.

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DIE SIEBEN TODSÜNDEN

Composer Kurt Weill

Librettist Bertolt Brecht

CastAnna 1 / Anna 2 Meow MeowTenor 1 Michael PetruccelliTenor 2 Carlos E. BárcenasBaritone Nathan LayBass Jeremy Kleeman

Orchestra Victoria

Concertmaster Roger Jonsson

Deputy Concertmaster Yi Wang^

Violin Erica Kennedy Acting Principal, Tomomi Brennan Associate Principal, Binny Baik, Lubino Fernandes, Rachel Gamer, Matthew Hassall, Rachael Hunt, Ceridwen Jones, Mara Miller, Philip Nixon, John Noble , Martin Reddington, Christine Ruiter, Markiyan Melnychenko*, Holly Piccoli*, Lynette Rayner*, Olga Vakoussevich*, Tim Veldman*

Viola Paul McMillan Principal, Jason Bunn, Catherine Bishop, Nadine Delbridge, Suying Aw*, Tom Higham*, Josh Stilwell*

Cello Melissa Chominsky Principal, Diane Froomes Associate Principal, Sarah Cuming, Philippa Gardner, Andrea Taylor

Double Bass Davin Holt Principal, Dennis Vaughan Associate Principal, Matthew Thorne

Flute Lisa-Maree Amos Principal, Karen Schofi eld Associate Principal, Melissa Doecke*

Oboe Stephen Robinson Principal, Joshua de Graaf Associate Principal, Dafydd Camp Principal Cor Anglais

S E V E N D E A D L Y S I N SP R O D U C T I O N

Clarinet Paul Champion Principal, Richard Sholl Associate Principal, Robin Henry Acting Associate Principal*, Andrew Mitchell Principal Bass Clarinet

Bassoon Lucinda Cran Principal, Hugh Ponnuthurai Associate Principal*, Timothy Murray Principal Contrabasoon

Horn Jasen Moulton Principal, Linda Hewett Principal Third Horn, Sydney Braunfeld, Rachel Shaw, Anton Schroeder*, Heather McMahon*

Trumpet Mark Fitzpatrick Principal, Anthony Pope Associate Principal, Tristan Rebien*, Allison Wright*

Trombone Scott Evans Principal, Benjamin Anderson Principal Bass Trombone, Robert Collins*

Tuba Jon Woods Principal*

Timpani Guy du Blêt Principal, Daniel Richardson Principal*

Percussion Conrad Nilsson Principal

Harp Delyth Stafford Principal*

Piano Simon Bruckard+

Banjo/Guitar John Paine*

^ Concertmaster for this performance* Denotes Guest Artist+Victorian Opera Music Staff

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S Y N O P S I SS E V E N D E A D L Y S I N S

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Perth/Anger

A bitter, angry feud rages between Rosanna and Gianina about Mr Big’s fortunes. Gianina wants desperately to protect her inheritance from her father’s new wife, his maid Rosanna.

Hobart/Envy

On the latest episode of glitzy game show Pick a Princess, Prince Alfredo must choose his wife. Host Mr Zee introduces three princesses, Benita, Katya and Maria, all vying for the Prince; each princess offers a different allure to Prince Alfredo.

Adelaide/Gluttony

Food critic Bob is trying to part ways with his arch nemesis Appetite.

Melbourne/Greed

Who was John Wren? A corrupt and self-interested criminal or a man of the people? Did he deserve celebration in his death or to be forgotten for his crimes?

Canberra/Pride

From Howard, Rudd, Gillard and Abbott, who will lead Team Australia? What made them and what made them walk the plank? GST, apologies, mining tax and more.

Brisbane/Sloth

Joh and Pete endure the heat on their verandah in the late afternoon, desperate for their next beer yet too lazy to fetch one. An angel appears, speaking extracts from John Milton’s ‘On His Blindness’. Joh and Pete are unphased; only interested in eventually getting their next beer.

Sydney/Lust

Three couples brunch at a café in Sydney’s inner west. Married couple, Kurt and Lotte, sit together while Fred and Julian, who are dating, sit with Marianne and Anna, long-term partners. The couples' lives intertwine.

DIE SIEBEN TODSÜNDEN

Sent out by the family into the hungrily sinful world, Anna must raise enough money to send home, to build a house in Louisiana. Each new city presents Anna with a formidable deadly sin to confront, as she slowly becomes a commodity to society and the family, under the guise of capitalism.

Image credit: © Magnus Hastings (p.12, p.13, p.16)

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TAHU MATHESON Conductor

Tahu has been working for Opera Australia since 2007. In 2016, he will conduct The Magic Flute and The Pearl Fishers for Opera Australia and will conduct the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, he conducted performances of L’elisir d’amore at Sydney Opera House and in 2012 & 2013 he conducted Oz Opera’s Don Giovanni. Tahu has assisted on numerous productions including the Ring Cycle, Bliss, Falstaff, Otello, Rigoletto, Carmen, Capriccio and Of Mice and Men. In 2008, he conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for the 4MBS Festival in Brisbane and in 2004 he conducted a new opera, Nelson, for the Trafalgar Bicentenary in London.

B I O G R A P H I E SS E V E N D E A D L Y S I N S

JULIAN LANGDON Composer

Melbourne-based composer Julian Langdon writes for film, television, games and the concert stage. His scores span a vast range of musical styles and contexts, featuring an array of soloists, bands, orchestras, electronic soundscapes, recorded objects and acoustic manipulations. His work has been featured internationally in high-profile advertising campaigns, broadcast television, film festivals, showcase events and concert halls. In 2007, the City of Melbourne awarded Julian the first Melbourne Prize for Music Development Award for his orchestral work, and in 2012 he was co-commissioned by the MSO and the TSO to compose a new work in celebration of the spectacular return of the redeveloped Hamer Hall.

CAMERON MENZIES Director

Cameron Menzies has worked with Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, ANAM, Oper Köln, Deutsche Oper, Berlin & DivaOpera UK. He is the recipient of the 2011 Berlin New Music Opera Award, 2008 Bayreuth Opera Award from Opera Foundation Australia/DAAD and The Besen Family Artist Program (Direction), Malthouse Theatre. Cameron currently has acclaimed productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and Le Nozze di Figaro touring Europe for DivaOpera UK, while 2014 saw his international debut directing Don Giovanni for the same company. In 2016, Cameron will direct Lucia di Lammermoor for Victorian Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

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JESSICA WELLS Composer

Jessica Wells is a versatile composer, orchestrator, and arranger for concerts, films, theatre, and album recordings.Since obtaining her Master of Music in Composition (Sydney Conservatorium) and Master of Arts in Screen Composition (AFTRS), her career has gone from strength to strength. Her business of 12 years, Jigsaw Music, provides music preparation services for clients all over the country and overseas. Jessica has orchestrated over 50 films, including the recently successful kids' movies Paper Planes, Blinky Bill and Oddball. She has written the theme music for ABC TV’s Q&A program – which makes her kids think she’s famous.

IAN WHITNEY Composer

Ian participated in the Symphony Services International/Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Composers School in 2013 and 2015. His work has been commissioned by Plexus and by Christopher Cartlidge for the ABC/Symphony Australia 2015 Young Performers Award. He studied at the Queensland Conservatorium with Gerard Brophy, and as a student he was also the inaugural recipient of the Australian Youth Orchestra/National Institute of Dramatic Art Theatre Music Fellowship. Ian worked in the Cultural Affairs office of the Embassy of Australia, Washington DC 2005-2011 and now lives in Sydney.

MARK VIGGIANI Composer

Mark Viggiani is a Melbourne-based composer whose music has been performed by various ensembles in Australia and Europe including the Tasmanian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, soprano Greta Bradman, Ensemble Liaison, the Mons Kinky Pinky Orchestra (Belgium), Z.O.O. Duo (Netherlands), The Song Company, and Speak Percussion. Amongst numerous awards and prizes, most recently Viggiani won the 2014 Melbourne Conservatory of Music / Melbourne Recital Centre award, and the 2012 Zavod Classical/Jazz Fusion Composition Award. Viggiani’s teachers have included Elliott Gyger, Stuart Greenbaum and Martin Bresnick, and he holds a Ph.D in Music Composition from the University of Melbourne.

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LINDA BRITTEN Costume Designer

Melbourne-born designer and RMIT graduate Linda Britten has been a much-loved and admired fixture on the couture scene since she launched her signature label. Linda was named “Australian Fashion Designer of the Year”, and has continued to be one of the most sought after labels. A couturier par excellence, her annual eveningwear and bridalwear collections are always revered. Linda Britten continues to design elegant and sophisticated eveningwear and wedding gowns in conjunction with personalised capsule collections. Her designs are worn by Australian and international personalities alike, with a particular emphasis on the red carpet and one-off pieces. She designs many performance gowns for opera singers, and now works closely with the MSO and the Australian Ballet School.

B I O G R A P H I E SS E V E N D E A D L Y S I N S

MEOW MEOW Anna 1 / Anna 2

Meow Meow has performed the contemporary and Weimar repertoires with the London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Pops, Oregon Symphony, Barry Humphries and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, ANAM, and in her own creations everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Lincoln Centre New York to Berlin's Bar Jeder Vernunft and London's West End. Her original work has been curated by David Bowie, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Pina Bausch and she appears next with San Francisco Symphony's Soundbox and then in PIAF! A Celebration at Town Hall NYC and then with Pink Martini and the Oregon Symphony for the holiday season. The Malthouse Theatre / Sydney Festival commission Meow Meow's Little Mermaid premieres in January for an Australian festival tour.

JOSEPH MERCURIO Lighting Designer

Joseph Mercurio was born in Melbourne and raised in Fremantle, Western Australia before moving to Sydney in 1993, working in a wide range of styles in Australia and touring the world extensively. He has collaborated with some of Australia’s leading theatre makers, including Stephen Page, Angela Chaplin, Sue Healey, Juliàn Reta Fuentes, Phillip Adams, Natalie Weir, Roger Hodgman, Chrissie Parrot and Graeme Murphy. He was Lighting Coordinator at WAAPA for four years and is currently Coordinator of Performance Technology at the Victorian College of the Arts.

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KATE AMOS Cast

Kate is a young soprano versatile in performing repertoire that spans genres. Holding a BMus (Perf) (Hons), Dip. (Italian) from UoM, is currently completing the M.Mus (Opera Performance). As a Victorian Opera developing artist, various roles in: La traviata, Hänsel & Gretel, I Puritani, Norma, leading roles with companies in Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Sweeney Todd, The Phantom of the Opera (Christine, Lyrebird Award). Kate has studied on scholarship in Italy at Fondazione Spontini Pergolesi, receiving the Sleath Lowrey Award and was ASC 2014 finalist winning multiple awards including: Symphony Australia Prize. She was a guest soloist at NYE concerts 2014: Hamer Hall & SOH with the APO.

CARLOS E. BÁRCENAS Cast

Born in Colombia. Bachelor of Music Performance and Masters in Music (Opera Performance) at University of Melbourne. His work for Victorian Opera includes Sir Bruno Robertson in I Puritani (2015), Steuermann in The Flying Dutchman (2015), Norma (Flavio, understudy Pollione), Hansel and Gretel (the Witch), La traviata (Gastone, understudy Alfredo) and as a soloist for Opera on a White Night (2013); Master Peter’s Puppet Show in 2012, Michael in Deborah Cheetham’s new opera Pecan Summer with Short Black Opera (2010 & 2011). In 2016, Carlos will appear as Edgardo, opposite Jessica Pratt, in Victorian Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

JEREMY KLEEMAN Cast

Jeremy Kleeman is a graduate of Victorian Opera and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music's Master of Music (Opera Performance), and is currently on the Joseph Sambrook Opera Scholarship with Melba Opera Trust. In 2015, Jeremy received critical acclaim for his Brisbane Baroque Festival debut as Teobaldo in Faramondo, named Best Opera at the 2015 Helpmann Awards. In 2016, Jeremy will sing his first lead role for Victorian Opera as they collaborate with Musica Viva to present the baroque pastiche Voyage to the Moon. Jeremy has twice been a prize-winning finalist in the IFAC Australian Singing Competition, and won Welsh Male Choir Singer of the Year in 2014.

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NATHAN LAY Cast

Since graduating from the Melba Conservatorium of Music, Nathan has established his career in the Melbourne opera scene. Nathan has won the National Liederfest, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Aria, and placed 3rd in the Herald Sun Aria. He has performed with Opera Australia (A Masked Ball, Aida, Falstaff, Tosca), Melbourne Opera (Schaunard - La Bohème, Guglielmo - Cosi fan tutte), and is currently a developing artist at Victorian Opera, having performed The Baker/Billy Webster - Sunday in the Park with George, The King - Puss in Boots, Barone Douphol - La traviata, Father - Hansel and Gretel, Bunyip Bluegum - The Magic Pudding – the opera, and Young Recruit in Richard Mills’ Remembrance.

B I O G R A P H I E SS E V E N D E A D L Y S I N S

EMMA MUIR-SMITH Cast

Mezzo Soprano Emma Muir-Smith is currently a developing artist with Victorian Opera, completing a Master of Music (Opera Performance), with Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne. During her time with Victorian Opera, Emma has covered several roles, and appeared in La traviata, Norma, The Flying Dutchman, I Puritani, and notably as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Operaland. In addition to her operatic commitments, Emma is a frequent recitalist and oratorio soloist, with a particular interest in chamber music. She performed, recorded, and toured extensively with the Choir of Trinity College from 2009-2012.

ELIZABETH LEWIS Cast

A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium, Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Studies. In 2013, Elizabeth became a member of the Opera Q Studio and in 2014, a developing artist for Victorian Opera. Some roles for Victorian Opera include Mother and Witch - Hansel and Gretel, Adalgisa (Cover) - Norma and Mrs Lovett (Cover) - Sweeney Todd. Other roles include Dido - Dido and Aeneas (Brisbane Baroque Festival), Sorceress -Dido and Aeneas (Bangalow Festival) and Tolomeo - ABANDON (Opera Q). Elizabeth has also been the recipient of many scholarships and prizes, most notable among these are the Sydney Opera House Opera Award 2015, and the More Than Opera Development Award 2015.

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CRISTINA RUSSO Cast

Cristina completed BMus (Hons) and BA majoring in Italian at University of Melbourne and is a developing artist with Victorian Opera, studying a Master of Music. Notable roles include: Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Violetta (cover) in La traviata, Elvira (cover) in I Puritani, and Valencienne in The Merry Widow. Chorus: La traviata, Norma, Der Fliegende Holländer (Victorian Opera) and Aida (Opera Australia). Cristina collaborated with Hollywood film composer Johnny Klimek singing and co-writing music for Chinese feature film Lord of Shanghai with Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. Winner of Acclaim Italian Opera Study Award, Cristina studied in Italy with Valeria Esposito, Luciana Serra and Mirella Freni.

MATTHEW TNG Cast

Baritone Matthew Tng completed a Bachelor of Music at The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He has performed in Victorian Opera's 2012 and 2013 seasons where he covered the role of Chou En Lai in Victorian Opera’s Nixon in China (John Adams). Matthew debuted as Marcello in Opera New England's production of La Bohème, and has performed in masterclasses conducted by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Andreas Scholl, Håkan Hagegård and Susan Graham. Matthew was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Herald Sun Aria competition. He is currently a developing artist with Victorian Opera, completing a Master of Music (Opera Performance) at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, at the University of Melbourne.

MICHAEL PETRUCCELLI Cast

Michael has recently performed the roles of Giuseppe in La traviata, the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, and the White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Operaland. Michael is also no stranger to the concert platform, having performed as a soloist in a number of Victorian Opera gala concerts as well as performing as a soloist for the various oratorios and masses around Melbourne and regional Victoria. He was awarded the Richard Bonynge Study Scholarship at the 2014 Melbourne Opera Bel Canto Masterclass. In 2016, Michael has been engaged by Victorian Opera to perform Arturo Ravenclaw, alongside Jessica Pratt, in Lucia di Lammermoor and Beppe in I Pagliacci, as part of Laughter and Tears.

T H E M E L B O U R N E C O N S E R V AT O R I U M O F M U S I C C O N G R AT U L AT E S T H E M A S T E R O F M U S I C (O P E R A P E R F O R M A N C E)

C L A S S O F 201 5 , F O R T H E I R P E R F O R M A N C E O F

SE V EN DE A DLY

SI NS F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N O N O U R G R A D U AT E P R O G R A M S I N M U S I C

A N D F U T U R E P U B L I C E V E N T S , V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E .

M C M . U N I M E L B . E D U . A U

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Founding Patrons Lady Potter AC The Late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE

Patron in Chief The Honourable Linda Dessau AM Governor of Victoria

Leadership Circle ($20,000+) Hans & Petra Henkell Anonymous (2)

Artistic Directors Circle ($10,000+) Deanne Bevan & Guy RussoRob & Caroline ClementeWilliam J Forrest AMJohn & Diana FrewMrs Jane HemstritchHans & Petra HenkellPeter & Anne LaverLady Southey AC Anonymous (1)

Education Syndicate ($5,000+) Hans & Petra Henkell Dr John & Elizabeth Wright-Smith

New Work Syndicate ($5,000+) Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AMSuzanne KirkhamSiobhan LenihanMarian & Ken Scarlett OAMJoy Selby SmithFelicity Teague

Living Bequest Susan Harley Anonymous (2)

Platinum Patrons ($5,000+) Greig Gailey & Geraldine Lazarus Greg Shalit & Miriam Faine Kaye Marion Wesfarmers Arts Anonymous (1)

Gold Patrons ($2,500+) Joanna BaevskiTanya Costello & Peter Costello ACBruce CurlCraig D'Alton & Peter SherlockThe Late Neilma GantnerBob GarlickJennifer George & Matthew WilliamsMurray GordonPeter & Jenny HordernIan Kennedy AM & Dr Sandra Hacker AOPeter LovellIan MerryleesJohn & Elisabeth SchillerTim & Lynne SherwoodEarl & Countess of WiltonAnonymous (2)

Silver Patrons ($1,000+) Dr Rosemary Ayton & Dr Sam RicketsonIan Baker & Cheryl SaundersLaurie Bebbington & Elizabeth O’KeeffeKirsty BennettBeth Brown & Tom Bruce AMBuckett Family David ByrneTerry & Christine CampbellDeidre CowanErnest Dawes OBE & Nola Dawes

If you would like to get more involved in the work of Victorian Opera through our individual giving program please contact Pooja Dutt, Individual Giving Manager on 03 9001 6408 or poojad@victorianopera.com.au

P A T R O N SV I C T O R I A N O P E R A

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John Drury & Dianne Reilly Drury AMGareth & Merran EvansJohn & Gaye GaylardBrian GoddardNance Grant AM MBEGras FoundationIrene IrvineStewart & Denise JackelSimon L Jackson & Brian WarburtonStuart T JenningsDavid C Jones AO OBE KSJRod & Daniele KempAlun & Patricia KenwoodJohn & Lynne LandyKwong & Joanne Lee DowDr Paul Lejins & Mrs Glenys LejinsAnne LierseJohn & Kerry LoveringMargaret Mayers & Marie DowlingDuncan & Lorraine McGregorDouglas & Rosemary MeagherMelbourne ADFAS Ken Muirden AOGreg NoonanRuth & Tom O’DeaJillian PappasJane Patrick & Robert Evans Michael RiggJohn RickardJudith Robinson & Michael Robinson AOJudith RodriguezTom & Elizabeth RomanowskiJoseph Sambrook & Mary-Jane GethingGraeme Samuel AC & Jill DaviesMichael SassellaAubrey SchraderPhillip SchudmakAndrew SnellCaroline Travers OAM

Michael TroyHelen & Chris TruemanLiz & Peter TurnerCatherine Walter AMIan A WattsRussell Waters & Marissa Barter-WatersAnonymous (4)

Bronze Patrons ($500+) Ines & Don BehrendDavid Bernshaw & Caroline IsakowPam Caldwell Angela DharCatrionadh Dobson & Charles WindeyerBeatrice DonkinDr M Elizabeth DouglasDennis Freeman Richard & Isabella GreenJill & Robert GroganApril HamerAngela KayserAngela KirsnerPeter & Barbara KollinerJane KunstlerJoan & George LefroyDavid & Barbara McSkimming Ian Morrey & Dr Geoffrey MinterPatrick O'DuffyMargaret PlantMerlyn QuaifeRalph RenardMary RyanJohn & Thea ScottMr Sam Smorgon AO & Mrs Minnie SmorgonPenny StragalinosHugh & Liz TaylorCaroline VaillantJohn WardAnonymous (16)

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S T A F FV I C T O R I A N O P E R A

Conductor Emeritus

Richard Gill OAM

Victorian Opera Board

Chairman Jane Hemstritch

Deputy Chairman Greig Gailey

Roger Box

Francis Ebury, Earl of Wilton

Ross Freeman

Anne Gilby

Siobhan Leninhan

Penny Stragalinos

Catherine Walter AM

Executive

Artistic Director Dr Richard Mills AM

Managing Director Andrew Snell

Executive Producer Libby Hill

Artistic, Engagement & Production

Head of Music Phoebe Briggs

Repetiteur Phillipa Safey

Artistic Administration Coordinator Kate Stephens

Artistic Administration Assistant Shakira Tsindos

Education Offi cer Deborah Vanderwerp

Production Manager Darren Cooper

Technical & Operations Coordinator Peter Darby

Production Coordinator Luke Hales

Finance and Administration

Finance & HR Manager Darren O'Beirne

Finance Assistant Claire Voumard

Offi ce Administrator & Communications Assistant Sharni Morter

Development and Marketing

Development Manager Louise O'Loughlin

Individual Giving Manager Pooja Dutt

Corporate Partnerships Manager Paul Shea

Development Coordinator Meredith Dellar

Development & Marketing Coordinator Nichole O'Duffy

Marketing & Communications Manager Kanesan Nathan

Marketing & Communications Coordinator Alexia Jordan

Media & Communications ExecutiveScott Whinfi eld

Victorian Opera 2015 Season Staff

Wigs & Make Up Linda Cowell

Wardrobe Supervisor Tiffany Abbott

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P A R T N E R SV I C T O R I A N O P E R A

Victorian Opera is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. Victorian Opera would also like to acknowledge, with great appreciation, the contribution of the partners listed on this page.

Government Partners

Supporting Partners

Education & Access Partners

William Angliss Charitable Fund

Performance Partners

Foundation Partner University Partner

Victorian Opera creates tailored partnerships to enable businesses to meet their strategic priorities. For a discussion about how your business can benefi t from a partnership with Victorian Opera, please contact Louise O'Loughlin, Development Manager, on (03) 9001 6405 or louise@victorianopera.com.au

Regional Partner

Government Partners

Foundation Partner Regional Partner University PartnerPerformance Partner Technology Partner

The Marian & E.H. Flack Trust

Gailey LazarusFoundation

Sylvia Fisher Foundation

Technology Partner

Markus Neilson Events

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Board

Libby ChristiePeter Hough Angela Kelly David McAllister AM

Philanthropy at Orchestra Victoria

Lifetime Giving

$200,000 and Above Mr Robert Albert AO RFD RD & Mrs Elizabeth Albert

Betty Amsden AOThe Jack Brockhoff FoundationThe William Buckland FoundationColonial FoundationGeoff and Helen Handbury FoundationHelen Macpherson Smith TrustLord Mayor’s Charitable FoundationThe Late David Mandie AM OBEDame Elisabeth Murdoch Charitable TrustSidney Myer Fund & The Myer FoundationLady Southey ACTattersal’s George Adams FoundationJohn & Marcia Wertheimer

$50,000 - $199,999 Joan & Peter Clemenger TrustCollier Charitable FundGandel PhilanthropyThe Late Mrs Neilma GantnerThe Grosvenor SettlementDr Peter A KingsburyThe Ian Potter FoundationJohn T Reid Charitable TrustsIrene & Margaret Stewardson Charitable Trusts

Orchestra Victoria

is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Australian Ballet. T: (03) 9694 3600 www.australianballet.com.au

Management

Artistic DirectorNicolette Fraillon General ManagerJulie Amos Personnel ManagerTony Gilham Project ManagerMargaret Lloyd Orchestra CoordinatorHarriette Blanden Operations CoordinatorPaul Shannan Project CoordinatorKate Salvatore Administration CoordinatorElise Lerpiniere Operations OfficerBennett Mackenzie LibrarianGlynn Davies HR ConsultantAnge Park AccountantChelsea CollinsPhilanthropy ManagerJames WorladgeT: (03) 9669 2732 jamesw@australianballet.com.au Patrons ManagerOlivia Passmore(03) 9669 2776oliviap@australianballet.com.au

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Endowment Funds

Education Lesley & Bob Qualtrough Bequest

Planned Giving

GC Bawden & L de Kievit

Trusts and Foundations

Creative Partnerships AustraliaThe William Buckland Foundation

Annual Giving

The Conductor's Podium Mr Robert Albert AO RFD RD & Mrs Elizabeth AlbertGeoff and Helen Handbury Foundation

The Concertmaster's Ensemble Avner Klein & Maria Pannozzo Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust

Principal Donors The Late Mrs Neilma Gantner Gaye & John Gaylard Dr Alastair Jackson Judith & Alasdair McCallum Don & Angela Mercer

Patrons David & Cindy Abbey Tom Bruce & Beth Brown Peter & Ivanka Canet Mr Jim Cousins AO & Mrs Libby Cousins Ms Jane Edmanson OAM Mr William J Forrest AM Louis J Hamon OAM

Henkell Family Fund Peter & Carmel Johnson Peter Kolliner OAM & Barbara Kolliner Maple-Brown Abbott H. E. McKenzie Marilyn Meyer Prof David Penington Lady Potter AC Mr John Redman Judith Robinson & Michael Robinson AO Mrs Margaret S Ross AM Adrienne Shaw Libby Smith H & EA Van Herk Victor & Karen Wayne Mrs Helen Worladge OAM & Mr Wayne Worladge

Government Partners

Australia Council for the Arts Creative VictoriaThe support received from the Australian Government through the Australian Council for Arts and from the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria provides the foundation from which we present all our partner opera and ballet companies. Further support from Local Governments assists our innovative Community & Education Programs.

Orchestra Victoria is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Australian Ballet.

Principal Regional Partner

Orchestra Victoria is assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body

Orchestra Victoria is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

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