Opera Conference to Present THE DIVORCE

The Opera Conference is delighted to announce that production is underway in Melbourne on The Divorce. The program is a unique multi-platform project that re-invents opera for television, film and online audiences across the country. Originally commissioned by The Opera Conference, this playful new approach to a traditional art form is a collaboration between The Opera Conference, ABC TV Arts and Princess Pictures and brings together exceptional creative talent from multiple genres. The original score is by internationally acclaimed composer Elena Kats-Chernin and the libretto by award-winning playwright Joanna Murray-Smith.

Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini said, "On behalf of Opera Australia and our Opera Conference partners, we are thrilled after several years of development to see The Divorce on television and in cinemas. I would like to thank all of our colleagues for coming on this journey with us."

Carolyn Chard, General Manager of West Australian Opera added, "As one of the four Opera Conference partners to commission this work, West Australian Opera is thrilled to be part of this 'reinvention of opera for the screen' that takes the art form into a new arena in an innovative and engaging way. The vision of ABC, Princess Pictures and Opera Australia in producing this is applauded and, in association with the support of The Opera Conference partners, is testament to the importance and value of successful collaboration."

The Divorce is a humorous, witty and musically rich 'soap opera' exploring the universal themes of love, passion, regret, greed and longing. The production features an impressive ensemble of stars including Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Hugh Sheridan, Kate Miller- Heidke, John O'May, Matthew McFarlane, Melissa Madden-Gray and Peter Cousens. They are supported by the musical and vocal expertise of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Opera Australia Chorus.

State Opera of South Australia General Manager Tim Sexton noted, "State Opera SA is delighted to be partnering a project that sees a new opera taken out of the theatre and into the living room, in a work that's funny, approachable, melodic and topical."

Lindy Hume, Artistic Director of Opera Queensland said, "OperaQ is pleased to partner with our colleague opera companies, ABCTV and Princess Pictures to develop new ways to connect the contemporary opera art form with contemporary audiences and is excited to embark on this ground breaking creative adventure. The Divorce expands on existing opera-on-screen experiences and ensures we'll be engaging as broadly as possible, simultaneously reaching metropolitan and regional audiences, thus opening up new possibilities for the future of opera."

Filming of the four-part series and feature film commenced on 8th July and the series will be broadcast later this year on ABC TV.

The Divorce is made possible through funding provided by The Opera Conference, the national partnership of professional opera companies: Opera Australia, The State Opera of South Australia, Opera Queensland and West Australian Opera.

To post a comment, you must register and login.