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Following the great critical and public success of Tannhäuser last year, Melbourne Opera is returning to the Regent Theatre to stage a new production of Richard Wagner's magnificent romantic opera Lohengrin, not performed in Melbourne for 15 years.
Melbourne Opera's second season for 2017 will see an extended company of over 160 singers and musicians fill the Regent Theatre with the powerful sound of opera for the second time in history.
Tickets for the Regent Theatre performances are on sale now via the Ticketmaster website or phone line: 1300 111 011. Tickets for the performance at Robert Blackwood Hall can be purchased via the Monash University website or by calling (03) 9905 1111.
Opening on 7 August, Lohengrin stars international Wagnerian Marius Vlad, who returns to the Regent Theatre to perform the title role following his celebrated performance as Tannhäuser. Marius Vlad is considered one of only twenty voices worldwide that are capable of singing the powerful and demanding title roles in Wagner's operas.
Globally acclaimed Australian opera star Helena Dix is returning to her hometown to perform the leading female role of Elsa von Brabant. For the first time in fourteen years, Helena will grace Melbourne audiences with the voice that carried her outstanding international career to Europe's most celebrated opera houses and to the prestigious Metropolitan Opera House (the Met) in New York. Helena has just completed covering a title role at the Met led by one of the world's best conductors James Levine.
Melbourne Opera's new production of Lohengrin is in the inspired hands of director Suzanne Chaundy, whose production of Tannhäuser was such a success.
"Wagner set Lohengrin, his version of the myth of the Swan Knight, at a time of enormous change in Germany, as the disparate country sought unification of its peoples and religion," says Suzanne.
Suzanne's production suggests the early tenth century and uses cutting edge contemporary technology to create a transformative and mysterious world.
"Inspiration for this production is drawn from the sense fragility and the ephemeral (the ephemeral nature of power, joy, love and life) permeating the work. Fragility is present from the outset as the shimmering strings of the prelude transport us to a distant and yet familiar world. This story is set over just two days and nights. We see how, in the blink of an eye, the fate of a person and a whole nation can change," says Suzanne.
Digital artist Yandell Walton is making her debut with Melbourne Opera, creating unique video and projection art for Lohengrin. Yandell's works have been exhibited at Melbourne Festival, VIVID Festival Sydney, White Night Melbourne and internationally.
Helena Dix is equally excited to be making her Lohengrin debut and returning to her hometown to perform it.
"It was so touching to be asked to sing at home again, where it all began and surrounded once again by family and friends that I grew up with. When I won the Wagner prize a few years ago and got to attend Bayreuth for the first time and sing for Richard Wagner's family I knew it was the start of something magic for me. Lohengrin was the first opera I saw there. As soon as the orchestra played the overture I just sat there and cried. I was so overwhelmed and so excited to be starting my Wagner journey," says Helena.
Other cast includes Sarah Sweeting (who received a Green Room Nomination for her performance as Venus in Tannhäuser) as the evil Ortrud, while Icelandic helden baritone Hrólfur Saemundsson makes his Australian debut as Telramund. Celebrated Melbourne Opera regulars Eddie Muliaumaseali'i and Phillip Calcagno perform the roles of Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Fowler) and Der Heerufer respectively.
David Kram and Greg Hocking conduct the 80 strong Melbourne Opera Chorus and 82-piece Melbourne Opera Orchestra.
Lohengrin contains some of Wagner's most famous arias and stirring ensembles, including the famous Wedding Chorus, Overture and Prelude to Act 3, and Lohengrin's moving In Fernem Land and Mein lieber Schwann. The opera will be sung in German with English subtitles.
Melbourne Opera, which receives no government funding, is Victoria's busiest opera company, staging three or four full-scale main stage productions and many concerts including several international tours each year. The company gives emerging singers and musicians invaluable professional experience in the company of distinguished experienced artists. As well as mainstream repertoire, Melbourne Opera also presents many lesser-known masterpieces.
Melbourne Opera's 2017 season is dedicated to the memory of Richard Divall AO OBE. The third installment of MO's Donizetti Tudor trilogy, Roberto Devereux, will come to life at The Athenaeum from 11 November starring Rosamund Illing as Queen Elizabeth I.
Melbourne Opera completed a triumphant sold out concert tour of China in January 2017, with an encore season on Boxing Day 2017, and began their 2017 season with a new production of Gilbert & Sullivan's nautical comedy H.M.S. Pinafore at The Athenaeum in March, which was lauded for its hilarity and gifted cast. www.melbourneopera.com
