State Opera SA 2015 program

Opera aficionados will have quite a few treats to choose from in 2015. The State Opera SA program highlights include Don Giovanni, Faust and Requiem. The theme for the 2015 season is ‘for the love…’, developing into various subtitles including ‘for the love of temptation’, ‘for the love of an open mind’ and ‘for the love of pleasure’. Mozart’s Don Giovanni represents this latter meaning. The classic story of the wicked rake and his eventual comeuppance will be masterfully presented as per the Göran Järvefelt production. This is the first of State Opera’s three big productions, and will take place on selected dates from Saturday, May 23 to Saturday, May 30. In August, the two main ‘temptation’ performances will take place in overlapping seasons: Faust from Saturday, August 22 to Saturday, August 29, and Verdi’s Requiem for two nights only: Wednesday, August 26 and Friday, August 28. Requiem, says SOSA CEO and Artistic Director Timothy Sexton, is ‘a work of operatic genius which changed the face of choral music forever’. Sexton will be the conductor for the formidable performance. Faust will be staged in French with English subtitles, and accompanied by a full ballet, inspired by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, production. For a contemporary twist, Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, adapted for stage and song, will be once again workshopped by State Opera SA. The company workshopped Act Two earlier this year, and will restage this act for SA audiences in late 2015. A secretive double-bill will be staged on Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18, covering Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Wolf-Ferrari’s Il Segreto Di Susanna (Susanna’s Secret). Each opera will be condensed to 50 minutes, with a 20 minute interval separating the stories. In October, SOSA will revisit the double-bill format with Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne and Offenbach’s La Chanson de Fortunio. Throughout the year, SOSA will revisit their educational programs and young artist engagement initiatives, running masterclasses and school sessions to introduce a new generation to opera. Further to this is the introduction of En Garde! a membership program for “opera newbies” who want to know more about the art. The membership includes drinks with the cast, a backstage sneak peek and information sessions all about opera. For State Opera SA’s full 2015 program, visit saopera.sa.gov.au  

More to see next year

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra 2015 program Musica Viva Barry Humphries to curate 2015 Cabaret Festival New director for OzAsia Festival 2015   Photographs supplied. Credit: Lightly Salted Photography