[Lawrence John Mays]

At the meeting or the MSA opera study group at the National Conference last December members expressed interest in organising a symposium to coincide with the National Opera’s production of Alcina in Canberra in December 2022. It will be a significant production, dedicated to the memory of Dame Joan Sutherland, and Richard Bonynge (now patron of the company) will be present. Performance dates are 8th and 10th December and details are here: https://nationalopera.org.au/alcina/   Alcina – National Opera These performances of Alcina are dedicated to Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE, and our new patron Richard Bonynge AC, CBE. Featuring Emma Matthews in the title role, and conducted by Handel specialist Graham Abbott, this production will bring together artists from around Australia to share in the opera that made La Stupenda. Performance Information Dates | nationalopera.org.au

It now appears that it would be feasible for us to proceed with a symposium at the ANU School of Music on Saturday 10th, to be followed by the evening performance. Areas covered in presentations and round table discussions could include literary sources for opera libretti, mythology in opera, historically significant productions of Alcina, and the history of opera in Canberra and we hope it would also involve ‘creatives’ for the production – conductor/director/performers.    As the event would fall in the week after the MSA National Conference and the lead time is now also relatively short, this message is to gauge interest in going ahead. If you would be interested in participating (as a presenter and/or on an organising group, or just by attending), please respond by Monday 12 September with an informal expression of interest (a one-line email is fine) to alan.maddox@sydney.edu.au.

Best wishes,   Larry Mays and Alan Maddox

[Author]

Posts