Tag Archives: Gilbert and Sullivan

Classical Music, Music, Opera

WILLOUGHBY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS

Celebrating a decade of performances at the Concourse, Chatswood, Willoughby Symphony has returned for live performances with their annual Last Night of the Proms, conducted by Guy Noble .Noble clearly had a terrific time , his conducting was crisp ,clear and precise and the Orchestra was in fine form. ,Because of Covid it was a smaller audience (all masked) but the audience ,Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Choir (plus artists of Pacific Opera) had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The concert was screened as part of the Australian Digital Concert Hall program.

First was the flurrying, darting Overture to The Thieving Magpie by Rossini .Quivering and jaunty,the strings are like a bird that circles, jumps and leaps with the Orchestra pulsating underneath.

Then we heard Handel’s Zadok the Priest in a richly layered performance and its floating , pulsating melody that develops into a crashing wave of sound by the Willoughby Symphony Choir. Zadok the Priest has been sung at the coronation of every British monarch since its composition in 1727.
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This was followed by a lush, exultant performance of Ralph Vaughan William’s Serenade to Music and the Orchestra was joined by members of Pacific Opera .It is an arrangement of How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice – a musing on music and the music of the spheres .The harp(Emily Granger)rippled , the music tumbled and flowed and voices and melody entwined creamily, becoming melodically and lyrically darker as the singers progressed. Continue reading WILLOUGHBY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS →

Classical Music

WILLOUGHBY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:  LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS @ THE CONCOURSE 

Much fun was had by all in this glorious concert, where we can pretend we are at the Royal Albert Hall in London. As always it featured popular classics and stirring British patriotic music. Willoughby Symphony was joined by the Willoughby Symphony Choir (including a few students of the Barker College Senior Choir) and the talented artists from Pacific Opera, all dynamically and enthusiastically conducted by Dr Nicholas Milton .

First up was a brisk, stirring rendition of ‘Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 4’ by Edward Elgar. Then came Henry Wood’s ‘See the Conquering Hero Comes’, from his work about the Battle of Trafalgar, with the melody familiar to church goers as the hymn ‘Thine Be The glory’ Risen Conquering Son’, but here without libretto .It opened with delicate woodwind then swelled to encompass the whole Orchestra.

‘Zadok the Priest’ by Handel, with its association with every British coronation since 1727,  was next with its pulsating , throbbing strings and the choir a huge wall of sound that tumbled and bubbled. Continue reading WILLOUGHBY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:  LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS @ THE CONCOURSE  →

Giveaways, Opera

ROCKDALE OPERA COMPANY PRESENTS ‘THE MIKADO’ IN JUNE : ONE DOUBLE PASS TO GIVE AWAY

 

 After an absence of 12 years, Gilbert and Sullivan’s much loved operetta, THE MIKADO, will make its welcome return to Rockdale Town Hall in a brand new production.

THE MIKADO is arguably the most popular of all of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. It is set in a mythical Japan and tells the story of the star-crossed lovers Nanki Poo and Yum Yum, the cheap tailor Ko Ko who has been elevated to the Exalted rank of Lord High Executioner, Pooh Bah Lord High Everything Else, Katisha an elderly lady from the Emperor’s court in love with Nanki Poo, and the Mikado himself. The opera is filled with glorious singing from the cast of principals and the ensemble. The wonderful score features some of the most beautiful and popular melodies including Three Little Maids from School, I Have a Little List, and the well-known Tit-Willow.

This new production is being directed by Elizabeth Lowrencev with Musical Direction by Vincent Colagiuri. Brett Crocker will play the part of The Mikado, Daniel Verschuer will play Nanki Poo, Andrew Brunsdon Ko Ko, Gordon Costello Pooh-Bah, Vi King Lim will play Pish-Tush, Kirralee Elliott will play Yum-Yum, Zoe Yalouris will play Pitti-Sing, Imogen Bilinksy will play Peep-Bo and Carli Partridge will play Katisha.

The season will run from the opening night on Saturday 22nd June to Sunday 30th June. Performances are Saturday 22nd June at 7.30pm, Sunday 23rd June at 2pm, Saturday 29th June at 7.30pm and Sunday 30th June at 2pm.

The show will run approximately 3 hours including one 20 minute interval. Duration: Tickets range from $35 to $50. The season will run from the opening night on Saturday 22nd June to Sunday 30th June. Performances are Saturday 22nd June at 7.30pm, Sunday 23rd June at 2pm, Saturday 29th June at 7.30pm and Sunday 30th June at 2pm.

http://www.rockdaleopera.com.au

Sydney Arts Guide has one double pass to give away to the opening night. Email  editor.sydneyartsguide@gmail.com with The Mikado giveaway in the subject heading. In the body of the email give your main reason why you would like to see this show.  The winner will be advised by email with the tickets being available for collection at the Box Office.

Editor’s Note : This promotion has now closed and the winner has been advised.

 

Opera

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA SYDNEY PRESENTS PATIENCE @ SHORE SCHOOL NORTH SYDNEY

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Dean Sinclair as Bunthorne Mitch Bryson as Grosvenor

Production Images by Ray Wing Lan.

An outstanding relatively ‘traditional ‘ version of this much loved Gilbert and Sullivan favourite is currently showing at Shore school North Sydney.

The operetta is named after a naive village milkmaid named Patience. With its counterfeit pop idols, lovesick ladies and macho military men it is still very contemporary. The play is a witty satire on the Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and ’80s in England and, more broadly, on superficiality, pretentiousness, fads, vanity and hypocrisy; it also satirises pastoral simplicity, romantic love and military bluster. Continue reading GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA SYDNEY PRESENTS PATIENCE @ SHORE SCHOOL NORTH SYDNEY →

Theatre

HMS PINAFORE

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Messmates ahoy!

If you like a straight, quite traditional version of G & S then this is for you. This year the production by the renowned Savoy Arts (now performing as Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Sydney) is HMS PINAFORE, first performed in 1878 and regarded. as one of their ‘big three‘ ( along with  The Mikado and  Pirates of Penzance). Directed by Elizabeth Lowrencev and under the graceful , inspired musical direction of maestro Rod Mounjed this is a production that vocally and musically delights and enchants .

Ignore the ridiculous plot twist at the end that theoretically puts all to rights. Just sit back, relax and enjoy. Continue reading HMS PINAFORE →