Opera Australia and the Australian Film Commission, today announced the first live transmission of an opera from the Sydney Opera House to regional cinemas across Australia.
On the evening of Wednesday 12 March 2008, Opera Australia's new production of Carmen will be transmitted via satellite from the Sydney Opera House Opera Theatre to eight regional cinemas that form the AFC's Regional Digital Screen Network in Albany (WA), Devonport (TAS), Hervey Bay (QLD), Yarram (VIC), Katherine (NT), Port Augusta (SA), Wagga Wagga and Singleton (NSW) as well as to live sites on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt and at Federation Square, Melbourne.
Opera on the Big Screen will be screened free of charge to an audience of up to 7000 people, with 4000 on the Sydney Opera House steps, 1000 at Federation Square and over 2000 in cinemas across Australia.
Adrian Collette, Chief Executive of Opera Australia said "Following the success of Opera Australia's inaugural live-site relay of La traviata to the Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House and to Federation Square in Melbourne, last March, we were keen to broaden the audience for this spectacular live event. Carmen is the ideal opera for first-timers and it is a great privilege to be able to present a relay of this wonderful production on screens throughout Australia. We are grateful to the Australian Film Commission for joining with us in presenting Carmen through its Regional Digital Screen Network."
He continued, "This is another very significant step in ensuring that the work of the national opera company and our artists are enjoyed and seen by as many people as possible across Australia and overseas."
Carmen is Bizet's best-known opera, and one of the most popular operas of all time. It was first performed in 1875 and has been a central part of the operatic repertoire ever since. Part of its appeal is its salacious story, initially denounced by critics as immoral, and its vivid range of characters from Carmen, the passionate gypsy to Escamillo, the heroic bullfighter. But the main reason it has endured must be Bizet's evocative music, which includes a string of hit arias from Carmen's sexy Habanera, to the bravura of the Toreador's Song.
On Wednesday 12 March, Australian mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby, who won praise for her appearances as Carmen in Opera Australia's 2002 production, will sing the title role. She is joined by Rosario La Spina, who has been steadily building his repertoire of romantic tenor roles with Opera Australia, as the tragic Don José. His rival, the bullfighter Escamillo, is sung by the young Melbourne-born bass-baritone Joshua Bloom who is making his debut at The Metropolitan Opera, New York later this year. Soprano Tiffany Speight performs the role of Don José's sweetheart Micaela, with Shane Lowrencev as Zuniga, the lieutenant of Don José's guard. Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artists Amy Wilkinson and Sian Pendry are the gypsy's Frasquita and Mercedes alongside Andrew Moran as the corporal Morales. Stephen Mould will conduct the performance.
"This partnership between the AFC and Opera Australia expands the benefits of the AFC's Regional Digital Screen Network from screening the latest Australian films to include broader cultural events. The AFC is excited to be at the forefront of this new cinema activity in Australia " said AFC Chief Executive Chris Fitchett.
Opera Australia's new production of Carmen is directed by American Francesca Zambello, a world-renowned director of opera, theatre and television whose previous productions for Opera Australia include Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk in 2003 and The Love for Three Oranges in 2005.
She says of the production: "I wanted to capture the heat, the cold of the mountains, the sense of the society, the range of the classes of the people, the gypsy girls versus the Spanish girls, and the sense of the elements - fire, water, wind, rain. I wanted to do a realistic Carmen."
Designed by Tanya McCallin and Paule Constable with choreography by Denni Sayers, this production of Carmen had its first staging in 2006 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and features live animals on stage including two horses, Drummer and Jamieson, a donkey and some chickens.
Damien Beaumont, presenter of ABC Classic FM, will host Opera on the Big Screen from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.
"ABC Classic FM is delighted to strengthen our partnership with Opera Australia in 2008 which already involves four live radio broadcasts of opera productions throughout the year, including Carmen from Melbourne on 26 April 2008," said Julia Lester, Acting Manager, Classic FM
Carmen is currently in season at the Sydney Opera House until 28 March 2008. It will open at the Arts Centre, Melbourne on 9 April 2008.
Presented by Opera Australia and the Australian Film Commission in association with ABC Classic FM, Sydney Opera House and Federation Square
For further information:
Izanda Ford
Australian Film Commission
Marketing, Regional Digital Screen Network
P: +61 2 9321 6439 E: izanda.ford@afc.gov.au
Elena Guest
Australian Film Commission
Coordinator, Regional Digital Screen Network
P: +61 2 9321 6585 E: elena.guest@afc.gov.au
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Opera on the Big Screen on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt is a free, ticketed event. There is a limit of 4 tickets per customer.
- Tickets can be obtained for this event from Monday 25th February 2008 by registering online at www.sydneyoperahouse.com or by calling (02) 9250 7777.
- For safety all children attending this event regardless of age must have a ticket.
- The Sydney Opera House Forecourt will open at 6pm on Wednesday 12 March, with the performance broadcast beginning at 7.30pm and finishing at 10.20pm.
- Patrons should arrive early in order to get a good seat and viewing position.
- Patrons are encouraged to bring a cushion as no chairs or eskies will be allowed.
- Once a guest is admitted onto the Forecourt, re-entry is not guaranteed to patrons who choose to leave.
- Please dress for the weather and bring sunscreen as well as a jacket for when the sun goes down or if the wind picks up.
- It is recommended that patrons attending the outdoor event use public transport.
- This will be a very busy night at Sydney Opera House with the majority of venues hosting performances and there may be traffic delays in Macquarie Street during the late afternoon/early evening.
- A complete range of catering, both food and drinks, will be available for purchase on the Forecourt during the evening. No glass or BYO alcohol will be allowed on the Forecourt.
- Sydney Opera House will be conducting bag inspections for security. This is a condition of entry onto the Forecourt.
Federation Square
Opera on the Big Screen at Federation Square is a free, non-ticketed event.- Carmen will be broadcast in the Atrium (undercover) and on the exterior live site screen (outdoors).
- The performance broadcast will commence at 7.30pm on Wednesday 12 March, and finish at 10.20pm.
- Seating is unreserved and unlimited outdoors. Seating is unreserved but limited to 600 in the Atrium. The Atrium will open at 6pm on Wednesday 12 March. Once a guest is admitted into the Atrium re-entry is not guaranteed to patrons who choose to leave.
- A complete range of catering, both food and drinks, will be available for purchase during the evening. No glass or BYO alcohol will be allowed in the Atrium.
- It is recommended that patrons attending the event use public transport.
- Parking is available at the Federation Square car park at a flat rate of $8. The car park can be accessed from Russell Street or Batman Ave (Exhibition Street extension - City Link).
- For further information call Federation Square on 03 9655 1900 or visit www.federationsquare.com
Regional Venues
Opera on the Big Screen in regional cinemas across Australia are free, ticketed events.- The pre-show broadcast will commence at 7.00pm AEDT with the performance commencing at 7.30pm on Wednesday 12 March, and finish at 10.20pm.
- Ticketing arrangements at each venue vary across the Regional Digital Screen Network. Enquires should be directed to the Australian Film Commission or individual venues.
- For further information contact Australian Film Commission on 02 9321 6444 or visit www.afc.gov.au
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