Merry Widow: Collaboration for Rockdale Opera and Strathfield Symphony

Rockdale Opera Company is staging one of the most popular operettas of all time, Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow at the Rockdale Town Hall in November 2014.

Set in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, The Merry Widow is one of the most frequently staged and well-loved operettas ever written, with clever witty dialogue and music by composer Franz Lehár. There have been continual revivals in theatres around the world since its première in Vienna in 1905.

Director Bob Peet, who is well-known to theatre–goers in both the St George Region and Sutherland Shire Musical Theatre societies, will be making his Rockdale Opera debut with The Merry Widow. “It’s terrific to have a cast of up and coming young Sydney opera stars, proving that opera is not just for “the oldies”, with a huge fan base of all ages looking for high-quality productions,” Bob said.

Rockdale Opera will welcome back Musical Director Sadaharu Muramatsu (pictured below).

In an exciting new collaboration with Rockdale Opera Company, Strathfield Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Sadaharu Muramatsu, will be accompanying Rockdale's cast, featuring some of Sydney's most exciting up and coming operatic stars.

Sydney Conservatorium trained Sylvie Humphries plays The Widow, Hanna Galwari. Sylvie has an impressive resume of awards and achievements under her belt, including being a finalist in both Opera Foundation Australia's New York Scholarship 2014 and Sydney Eisteddfod's McDonald's Operatic Aria in 2014.

“I love Hanna's aria Vilja,” said Sylvie, it’s just so beautiful. Hanna is someone everyone can relate to. She has had her heart broken, has made certain life choices to get to where she wants to get to and then finally gets the man she loves.”

Michael Johnson plays “ladies’ man” Danilo, a role which he previously performed in 2011 at Canberra’s historic Albert Hall where he has also been a regular principal artist in the annual Opera by Candlelight series. When he’s not “hitting the boards”, Michael spends his days behind a desk in his role as Finance Manager at Fox Sports. “I’m very thankful my wife and two beautiful daughters, Emily and Annabelle, don’t mind me indulging in my passion for music and performing. The girls are my greatest supporters, and see all my shows. Of course, they are also my harshest critics!” said Michael, laughing.

Stephanie Jennifer Poropat is relishing her role as the coquettish Valencienne. Stephanie Jennifer began her career performing in ensembles whilst also performing as a soloist in concerts, showcases, eisteddfods, festivals and talent quests. “I began to explore singing in the bel-canto style and soon fell in love with this music and enjoyed the challenge that it presented both as a vocalist and a stage performer,” said Stephanie Jennifer. This is her second opera with Rockdale, having previously performed the role of Mabel in Gilbert  and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.

Performing opposite Stephanie Jennifer is Alastair Colgrave who plays Camille De Rosillon. Alastair is relishing being able to fully use his high tenor skills, and finds the role of Camille suits him perfectly. “I was delighted to be invited to perform at the beautifully restored Rockdale Town Hall, I’m really looking forward to it” said Alastair. When asked how long he has been singing, Alastair said, “I started when I was sixteen at school and full time at university when I was seventeen. I had my first professional engagements with Opera Australia Chorus and West Australian Opera Chorus when I was eighteen. Classical Music has always been an integral part of my life as my father was a university professor of music and I started learning piano and violin at the age of 5. I’m proud to say I’m a WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) graduate and I also did my music degrees at Charles Darwin University. I feel this production is going to be something special, my fellow leads are exceptional and there will be full orchestra and some pretty lavish sets and costumes. Rockdale Opera Company has a terrific reputation for bringing high quality opera to Sydney audiences for a fraction of the cost of going to the Opera House.”

Yet another lawyer by day with aspirations to become a professional opera singer is Jareth Norman, who plays Bogdanowitsch. Jareth won Forbes Eisteddfod 2014 Sacred Solo (open), Aria (open) and Own Choice (open).  “I loved performing from a young age,” Jareth said, “and that became a love of opera when I had Deborah Humble as my first private singing teacher. I pursued that through high school, but completing a law degree left me unable to participate in productions for several years. I wanted to jump back into opera, test my voice after working on it without performing for years and re-engage in the art of it.

“I'm told I would always sing along in church as soon as I could follow a tune. My first big experience of singing was in 1997, I was 8 and I joined a Children's Christmas Choir; I was good at it and I never stopped. I conduct that Christmas Choir now.”

“I’m a Merry Widow tragic,” says Bob Peet. “I have directed this show many times, however I have to say this is shaping up to be the best yet!”

THE MERRY WIDOW
ROCKDALE TOWN HALL, PRINCES HWY, ROCKDALE
Sat 8 Nov 7:30pm, Sun 9 Nov 2:00pm, Sat 15 Nov 7:30pm, Sun 16 Nov 2:00pm
TICKETS: $45 Adults, $40 Concession, $25 Children, Family of four $120 (additional child $20), Groups of eight of more $40 each, Student groups of eight or more $15 each
BOOKINGS: 1300 306 776 or online www.rockdaleopera.com.au