With momentum building for the London Olympics, opera companies are ramping up for the Olympic Arts Festival with some interesting works many of which feature Australasians. Here is a smattering of some of our home grown stars planned work over the next few months.

ROYAL OPERA, COVENT GARDEN

4 Cycles of  Wagner’s RING during September through to November including Simon O’Neill as Siegmund, Peter Coleman-Wright as Donner and Gunther and Susan Bullock (soon to be adopted as an Aussie after her electrifying performance as Katerina Ismailova in LADY MACBETH OF     MTSENSK, and our future Brunhilde for Opera Australia in 2013) as Brunhilde

Berlioz’ THE TROJANS with Ji-Min Park (recently Rudolpho in LA BOHEME, Alfredo in the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour LA TRAVIATA, and rumoured to be Ernesto in a forthcoming DON PASQUALE with Opera Australia)  as Iopas, and Pamela Helen Stephen (a much underrated singer when she was with Opera Australia) as Hecube

A new production of Britten’s GLORIANA with Susan Bullock as Elizabeth I and Peter Coleman-Wright as Sir Robert Cecil

A revival of Elijah Moshinsky’s production of Verdi’s SIMON BOCCANEGRA to be performed in the 1881 version

ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA

A new production of Wagner’s FLYING DUTCHMAN with Stuart  Skelton as Erik (replacing Julian Gavin who has unfortunately had to withdraw for health reasons) and Orla Boylan as Senta (another adopted Aussie after singing Mimi in LA BOHEME, Ellen Orford in PETER GRIMES, Procne in Richard Mills LOVE OF THE NIGHTINGALE and a terrific Chrysothemis in ELEKTRA all for the West Australian Opera)

A revival of Puccini’s MADAME BUTTERFLY with Pamela Helen Stephen as Suzuki and conducted by Oleg Caetani (ex-Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

A new production of Glanert’s CALIGULA starring Peter Coleman-Wright in the title role, directed by Benedict Andrews, sets by Ralph Myers and costumes by Alice Babidge. Translation by Amanda Holden

A new production of Britten’s BILLY BUDD with Jonathan Summers as Mr Redburn and directed by David Alden (director of the recent controversial TOSCA and delightful PARTENOPE for Opera Australia)

OPERA HOLLAND PARK

A new production of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR with Elvira Fatykhova and Aldo di Toro as Lucia and Edgardo, and directed by Olivia Fuchs (Opera Australia I CAPULETI e i MONTECCHI). A shame that Richard Bonynge was not engaged to conduct to rekindle the magic found in the recent Queensland Opera LUCIA with Elvira Fatykhova

New Zealand soprano Anna Leese singing Tatiana in EUGENE ONEGIN

Peter Robinson (an old friend of both Opera Australia and Queensland Opera) conducting Verdi’s FALSTAFF