Celebrating the bold and rebellious women: Opera Queensland presents its brand-new production 'The Sopranos'
Opera Queensland’s new commission written by Sarah Holland-Batt, The Sopranos, will visit The Roma Cultural Centre on Sunday, 29 May 2022 as part of the 2022 tour of regional and remote Queensland.
Shining a light on some of the greatest dramatic moments in the repertoire, The Sopranos challenges our assumptions, inviting us to experience these unforgettable women anew.
Maranoa residents are invited to enjoy an evening comprising of a theatre-style performance, celebrating the bold and rebellious roles women have played throughout the history of opera, with complimentary champagne and canapés on arrival, and with a licensed bar at interval.
Opera Queensland Artistic Director Patrick Nolan said the new work was ambitious in scale and scope, responding to questions about the representation of women in opera.
“Women have played such a central role in the history of opera but it’s a complex dynamic, their absence as composers, conductors and creators is a challenging conversation we can’t shy away from,” Mr Nolan said.
“The Sopranos addresses these challenges creating a space for audiences to engage with these ideas in an open and positive way.”
Mr Nolan said writer Sarah Holland-Batt had crafted a performance of great humanity, examining the dynamics of power and the ever-changing role of women in opera.
“Sarah has a special understanding of the relationship of language to music and the way song tells stories,” he said.
“To bring the vision and story to life, we have cast some of Australia’s finest opera singers to play a broad range of roles, covering a repertoire that spans the baroque to verismo to the contemporary including works by female composers and Australian composers.”
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government was supporting Opera Queensland in 2022 with additional investment of $500,000 to support the development of The Sopranos and the Festival of Outback Opera.
“I am delighted Opera Queensland is continuing to innovate and tell new stories to wider audiences, with The Sopranos showcasing the tenacity, strength and determination of the women in opera who have enthralled audiences for centuries.
Sarah Holland-Batt said The Sopranos explored the idea that opera could be both a vehicle to celebrate the virtuosity of women artists at the same time as questioning and challenging the representations of women.
“The Sopranos is staged in two thematic parts. The first act addresses the challenges and crises women have faced in opera, the second examines their strength and tenacity in responding to those challenges,” Ms Holland-Batt said.
“While we explore the tension between female characters who suffer tragic or violent fates and those who rebel against their social constraints, what is consistent throughout is the tremendous power and virtuosity of the female voice.
“Our hope is for audiences to leave The Sopranos with a renewed appreciation for the enormous contributions women make in opera and perhaps with new perspective on those female characters that are so familiar to us.”
The repertoire has been chosen from across the history of opera, from Monteverdi right through to contemporary 21st Century Australian work written by women.
“Audiences will see well-known heroines like Carmen, Tosca, Dido and Turandot and works from lesser-known operas like Biographica by renowned Australian composer, Mary Finsterer, all presented through a contemporary lens.”
Mayor Tyson Golder is thrilled to welcome back Queensland Opera to the region for another spectacular evening.
“Once again, Opera Queensland will be providing a spectacular evening for all to enjoy, it is great to see events such as this are being held in the Maranoa for regional communities to experience.”
The night will begin with a complimentary champagne and canapés on arrival opening from 6pm and guests will be seated by 6.45pm for the show to start at 7pm. The show will run for approximately 85 minutes with a 20-minute intermission. During Intermission guests will have access to an open bar to purchase drinks.
Ticket pricing is as follows:
- $45 per Adult
- $30 for Children 13 – 17 years
- $15 for Children 12 years and under
Council encourages residents to get in quick and secure their tickets for this event. Tickets available via the following link, https://bit.ly/oq-thesopranos
For more information, please contact Council’s Regional Arts and Culture Officer Tennielle Limpus on 1300 007 662.