Bold and rebellious women are front and centre in Opera Queensland’s first mainstage production of 2022, the world premiere of The Sopranos at QPAC’s Concert Hall from 29 March to 2 April 2022.
The thrilling new work explores the representation and contribution of women throughout the history of opera. Spanning opera’s beginnings in Florence to the present day, The Sopranos is conceived and brought to life by a powerhouse team of artists with women at the heart of the production team.
Australian poet and author Sarah Holland-Batt wrote The Sopranos, working with dramaturg Jane Sheldon; Laura Hansford co-directs with Opera Queensland Artistic Director Patrick Nolan; Jessica Gethin conducts the Queensland Symphony Orchestra; Marg Horwell designs the set; with costume design by Karen Cochet and Bianca Bulley; and lighting design by Christine Felmingham. More than 90 artists and arts workers are bringing The Sopranos to the stage, including sopranos Lisa Harper-Brown, Leanne Kenneally, Sarah Crane and Eva Kong, baritone José Carbó and the Opera Queensland Chorus.
Opera Queensland Artistic Director Patrick Nolan said the new work was ambitious in scale and scope, responding to questions about the representation of women in opera. “Women have played such a central role in the history of opera but it’s a complex dynamic, their absence as composers, conductors and creators is a challenging conversation we can’t shy away from,” Mr Nolan said.“The Sopranos addresses these challenges creating a space for audiences to engage with these ideas in an open and positive way.”
Mr Nolan said writer Sarah Holland-Batt had crafted a performance of great humanity, examining the dynamics of power and the ever-changing role of women in opera. “Sarah has a special understanding of the relationship of language to music and the way song tells stories,” he said. “To bring the vision and story to life, we have cast some of Australia’s finest opera singers to play a broad range of roles, covering a repertoire that spans the baroque to verismo to the contemporary including works by female composers and Australian composers.”
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