Entertainment News

Ali McGregor joins The Butterfly Club’s line-up.

Fresh from La Clique and The Opera Burlesque, acclaimed soprano Ali McGregor and her autoharp enter the sometimes eerie world of the Midnight Lullaby. From Tom Waits to Hugo Wolf, Radiohead to Russian folk song, Ali will be joined by well known guests from the Melbourne comedy and music scene like Scott Edgar from Tripod, Martin Martini, Adam Hills and Captain Frodo.
(more…)

The Butterfly Club presents a diverse line-up during the Melbourne Fringe Festival, including the much anticipated new show by Sammy J (‘Best Newcomer’ of the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival). All we can say is … prepare to be blown away!
(more…)

Continuing to enchant audiences around the world with their unique blend of operatic pop!

Adelaide, Festival Theatre - Tuesday Feb 14
Canberra, Canberra Theatre - Wednesday Feb 15
Melbourne, Hamer Hall - Friday Feb 17
Brisbane, QPAC Concert Hall - Saturday Feb 18
Newcastle, Civic Theatre - Monday Feb 20
Sydney, Opera House - Wednesday Feb 22
Margaret River, Leeuwin Estate Saturday Feb 25

Tickets on sale now through Bass 131 246 (Adelaide), Canberra Ticketing 6275 2700, Ticketmaster 136 100 (Melbourne), QTix 136 246 (Brisbane), Ticketek 132 849 (Newcastle), Sydney Opera House 9250 7777 or Ticketmaster.

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra presents Messiah - the ‘greatest opera Handel never wrote’­ at 5pm on Sunday December 18 in Melbourne Town Hall, continuing its recorded-breaking dedication to the popular oratorio.

RMP has performed Messiah every year since its inaugural concert in 1853 ­ a world record for unbroken annual performances of the choral classic. With multiple performances in some years, the total number of RMP performances is over 227.

Andrew Wailes, RMP Music Director and Conductor says Messiah holds a message for a lot of people:
“Messiah is based on a story about the meaning of Christianity. In recent decades attending the concert has become a quasi-religious experience, and a lot of people see it as part of their worship. They may not go to church necessarily ­ but they go to a Messiah performance.”

Performing solos in arias such as ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ and ‘Why do the Nations?’ will be some of our finest singers: Teresa La Rocca (soprano); David Hamilton (tenor); Roxane Hislop (mezzo); and Derek Welton (baritone).

George Frideric Handel, born in Germany in 1685 became widely known for his Italian operas. He settled in England in the 1710s and invented the Œoratorio¹ art form ­ a large-scale choral work, with solo vocal roles accompanied by an orchestra. Messiah is his most famous work. It caused considerable controversy during it first performances ­ the composer criticised for turning the Bible into a concert for public enjoyment. The work is best-known for its “Hallelujah” chorus.

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic (RMP) is gearing this year’s performance towards raising awareness for WaterAid Australia and its projects. WaterAid Australia works with some of the world’s poorest communities in South East Asia, the Pacific Region and in South Asia.

Chris Wootton, CEO WaterAid Australia says about 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water: “Hallelujah -it’s time the broader Australian community learns more about the serious poverty issues other communities face. By working together with Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, WaterAid Australia can raise broader awareness of its projects - such as providing safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world’s poorest communities. We will also promote the benefits of supporting Royal Melbourne Philharmonic - Australia’s oldest cultural organisation, and the music it continues to provide after 153 years.”

WaterAid Australia is an international NGO dedicated to helping people escape the stranglehold of poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation. Its mission is to help the world¹s poorest people gain access to safe water supplies and latrines, close to home.

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic is the third oldest secular choir in the world (after Halifax and Toronto). Founded in 1853, Handel’s Messiah was the work that launched the choir in Collins Street ­ now the Athenaeum. RMP performed at the opening of the first Parliament and of the Melbourne Town Hall. RMP is now widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading large choirs, recently performing to great acclaim, notably in Peter Sculthorpe¹s Requiem (05 Castlemaine Festival), Elijah by Mendelssohn, and Liturgy of St John Crysostom (most popular event of Melbourne Fringe 04); plus performances with VCA Symphony (Rachmaninov¹s The Bells, and The Miraculous Mandarin by Bartok, and a performance in Melbourne Festival 04 (Gurrelieder).

Messiah will be performed at 5pm on Sunday December 18 2005 in Melbourne Town Hall. Tickets are $39 (adult) or $50 (premium), $32 (senior/concession), $30 (student), $15 (15 years and under). For tickets call 132 849 or purchase directly through RMP on 03 9419 1582

Twice the talent, twice the passion…… at less than half the price!
The Lyric Opera of Melbourne presents Benjamin Britten’s chamber masterpiece

The Rape Of Lucretia @ The Assembly Hall, Melbourne - Sept 23, 24, 28, 30 & Oct 1.

A tale of Politics, Passion, Jealousy, Honour and Death… all the makings of great Drama!

The Rape Of Lucretia is an opera in two acts by Benjamin Britten. Based on the play, Le Viol de Lucrèce by Andre Obey, and works by Livy and Shakespeare, it is set in Rome, around 510 BC, when the Etruscans ruled during a decadent society. The Roman General Collatinus, boasting of his faithful marriage, instils jealousy into fellow General Junius, who challenges the Etruscan Prince Tarwuinius to put this fidelity to the test, wife Lucretia does not willingly surrender to the Princes advances, resulting in Tarwuinius raping her and as with most classic operas it ends in tragedy.

This contemporary setting of The Rape of Lucretia takes place in the modern day courtroom over two acts. Lucretia’s rape has come before the court, where Tarquinius stands charged. Experience the passion and high drama in a production that draws its inspiration from courtroom drama with a dash of Shakespeare whilst maintaining the integrity of this classic chamber opera.

This will be the first season of Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia seen in Melbourne for at least 30 years. With a stellar cast including internationally renowned tenor, David Hamilton, together with a conductor/director artistic team that has worked together for over 10 years producing some of Melbourne’s finest musical occasions, this is a production not to be missed.

Born in Lowestoft, November 22, 1913, Benjamin Britten began to compose, without guidance, at the age of 5. Peter Grimes, Benjamin Britten’s first opera, had been a huge hit at Sadlers Wells Theatre in London in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. A large-scale opera with full orchestra and chorus, Peter Grimes’ success proved very difficult to follow: the large opera houses in London were seeking to rebuild their audiences and could not afford to take the risk of another new commission and instead were presenting seasons of standard repertoire. Rather than wait for the opera houses to come to him, Britten decided to write an opera with a modest-sized orchestra, a small group of reliable and loyal singers and no over-ambitious staging requirements. The opera premiered at Glyndebourne in the summer of 1946 with eight singers and twelve musicians.

The Lyric Opera of Melbourne staged its first production in March 2003 to critical acclaim. A new company with a vibrant and fresh outlook on opera presentation for this century, committed to producing high quality work that entertains, informs, stimulates and develops new audiences. Our operas are all sung in English and set in small theatres providing a very intimate and direct theatrical experience. The company takes great pride in performing repertoire that is rarely performed elsewhere in Australia, and presenting it in the most accessible manner possible. Lyric Opera is the only Victorian Opera company to publish and produce an entire opera season in 2005.

The Rape of Lucretia Cast:
Lucretia: Belinda Paterson
Bianca: Kerrie Bolton
Lucia: Melanie Adams
Tarquinius: Simon Meadows
Junius: Phillip Joughin
Collatinus: Adrian Tamburini
Male Chorus: David Hamilton
Female Chorus: Danielle Calder

The Rape Of Lucretia
September 23, 24, 28, 30, October 1 at 8pm

The Assembly Hall , 156 Collins Street, Melbourne
Tickets from Ticketmaster: Phone 1300 136 166 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.au
Further information at: www.independent-classics.com.au

“Peter Brocklehurst - Intimate and Live”

Australia’s newest opera sensation, Peter Brocklehurst, will present a series of intimate concerts on Friday and Saturday nights at Gasworks Theatre, Albert Park, commencing July 22 and 23. Peter will sing beautiful love songs and arias including a variety of songs from his latest album ‘For You’ and his first album ‘Boots and All’. Both albums have been hugely successful, with ‘Boots and All’ topping the ARIA Classical Charts last year. Accompanying Peter will be the brilliant musician Vladimir Vais and soprano Margaret Orr, who also sang on his latest album.

Friday 22nd July at 8:00pm and
Saturday July 23rd July at 8:00pm

Venue: Gasworks Theatre, Albert Park
Tickets: $49.50 (all inclusive)

Bookings and enquiries: 03 9699 3253

For more information visit www.gasworks.org.au