Voices on a Sunday May 24, 2008

Pacific Opera combines with the exciting chamber choir Bel a cappella and a 20 piece orchestra for VOICES On a Sunday on 25 May at 2:30pm at the Independent Theatre for one performance only. Eleven new and talented young artists perform a wonderful, varied program ranging from Handel through Wagner, Verdi and Lehar and on to living composers, Palmer and McGlynn.
This dynamic performance is brought together with a 20 piece orchestra under the baton of rising young Australian conductor, Russell Ger, his last Australian performance before taking up overseas studies. He will be joined by young artists Jonathan Alley, Julian Brun, Martin Buckingham, Rachel Cunningham, Eve Klein, Mary O’Doherty, Paul Morris, Lecia Robertson, James Roser, Kathryn Turner and Sharon Zhai.
“It’s a real pleasure to welcome Russell Ger and Bel a cappella to Pacific Opera’s annual concert
and to introduce 10 emerging artists”, said Pacific Opera Artistic Director Christine Douglas. “The combination of 20 piece orchestra, 19 person choir and 11 soloists will give us our biggest and boldest sound yet, all in the beautiful little jewel which is the Independent theatre”.
Pacific Opera produces opera with a twist and delights audiences providing a platform for the operatic stars of tomorrow. Bel a capella is a chamber choir which explores and enjoys choral music through performance and which aims to encourage the performance of Australian compositions. This fusion promises to create a dynamic combination. Enjoy great operatic choruses, Va pensiero and the rousing Brindisi from La traviata with choir and soloists.
Since making his conducting debut at the Sydney Opera House Russell Ger has been invited to conduct Orchestra Victoria and the Melbourne Male Voice Choir. Russell’s involvement with the Symphony Australia has allowed him to work with many of Australia’s top professional ensembles including the Adelaide, Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras.
Jonathan Alley graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2006. In 2005, he performed the part of Zodzetrick in the Australian premier of Scott Joplin’s opera, Treemonisha.
Julian Brun has appeared as tenor soloist in several concerts including a performance of Handel’s Messiah. He has had many roles in musical theatre productions and will perform later this year with Pacific Opera as Pygmalion in Franz von Suppé’s Gorgeous Galatea.
Martin Buckingham has previously performed in Cosi fan tutte and The Barber of Seville for Pacific Opera. For the past two years he has been studying at the Sydney Conservatorium Opera School and in 2007 joined Opera Australia as a full time chorus member.
New Zealand born Rachael Cunningham was a recipient of the Nerissa Niblo Award and last year appeared as Sister Catherine in Dead Man Walking in Sydney. For Opera Australia, Rachael has performed in the chorus and in roles with their Schools Company, such The Marriage of Figaro and Lohengrin.
Eve Klein is a mezzo soprano studying opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is a Pacific Opera regular, having performed as a chorus member for Cosi Fan Tutte, Hansel and Gretel, and The Magic Flute.
Paul Morris completed his Bachelor of Music at The Conservatorium, The University of Newcastle (majoring in voice) and has performed in a number of musical productions including Rigoletto and Oklahoma! in 2002 and Sweeney Todd in 2003 with Opera Hunter. His most recent performance was as Sextus in Handel’s Julius Caesar for Opera Hunter in May this year.
Lecia Robertson has performed over twenty opera roles in productions such as La Boheme and Susannah. Future performances include the title role in The Merry Widow for Newcastle Festival Opera and Duke Bluebeard’s Castle for Victorian Opera.
James Roser has previously performed in Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Owen Wingrave, Madama Butterfly and Barber of Seville and has sung in the Opera Australia chorus. He is currently a semi-finalist in the 2008 2MBS-FM Young Performer Award.
Kathryn Turner’s roles include; Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Susanna and Barbarina in Marriage of Figaro, and Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld and many others.
Sharon Zhai is a coloratura soprano who holds degrees in opera performance from the Beijing and Sydney conservatoriums. Operatic roles include the Queen of the Night from Mozart's Magic Flute, Dido from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Lizzie from Bach's Coffee Cantata.
In 2006-2007 Mary-Jean Anais O'Doherty was one of Mabel's sisters in Opera Australia’s Production of Pirates of Penzance and also performed in the Female Ensemble of the opera Dead Man Walking in Sydney.
Pacific Opera and Bel a capella
Present
Pacific Opera & Bel a cappella
Voices
On a Sunday
Starring
Conductor: Russell Ger
Jonathan Alley, Julian Brun, Martin Buckingham, Rachel Cunningham, Eve Klein, Mary O’Doherty, Paul Morris, Lecia Robertson, James Roser, Kathryn Turner, and Sharon Zhai
Sunday 25 May
Independent Theatre 269 Miller St North Sydney
Adults $40
Conc $35
Child $20
Bookings through mca-tix 1300 306 776 or www.mca-tix.com
www.pacificopera.com.au

Official Website: http://www.pacificopera.com.au