What is happening with Opera Queensland?
October 1, 2011 | Author insider
What is happening with Opera Queensland ?
This vibrant State opera company to the north seems to have fallen into the doldrums with their planned 2012 season, which is positively underwhelming.
The recently announced season consists of only 2 staged works – THE MIKADO and CARMEN, and concert performances of Verdi’s MACBETH. Yes only ONE true staged opera in 2012 !
The production of Stephen Schwartz (composer of the Broadway musical WICKED ) first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON planned for October 2012 has been shelved.
During the 1990′s Opera Queensland usually staged 4 operas per year and one or two major concerts. This fell to 3 staged operas in the 2000′s. Often Opera Queensland would have their own home grown productions as well.
Has the return of Opera Australia to Brisbane taken all the vacant spots at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre ? Or is Opera Queensland underfunded while extra State dollars have been channeled into contributing to the resurrection of Opera Australia seasons in Brisbane ? I suspect both.
A shame really when Opera Queensland has such a great record of well staged operas with excellent casting and exciting guest artists. It is even more of a shame when the Queensland Government is not sufficiently supporting their State opera company to enable them to maintain their current working level, and is not enabling them to make the leap to staging new, different and exciting repertoire and c0-productions with other and overseas opera companies.
Queensland opera fans love their State opera company and want to see it flourish, not flounder due to poor government subsidies and poor co-ordination with the National company.
When one considers the vibrancy of other state companies (especially the State Opera of South Australia – the Ring Cycle (twice!), Australian premieres of major works etc) Opera Queensland has been a grave disappointment. They have given many fine performances of main stream works but in recent years have tended towards cut-price efforts in the Conservatorium Theatre, small orchestras, sometimes absent chorus etc. I had wondered if I was the only person to notice this. I agree entirely with your comments. In the last few weeks Anna Bligh has been spruiking Queensland’s arts credentials. It seems like all spin and no substance, at least in Opera Queensland’s case.
Sad news to add to Opera Queensland’s woes that after 14 years at the head of Opera Queensland as Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Chris Mangin will step aside at the end of January 2012 to make way for a new appointment. Mr Mangin will be rekindling his own company helping to develop and strengthen performing arts and other not-for-profit organisations as well as undertaking a range of special projects.