Skip to main content

Article: The Puccini Effect - Vanessa West

 

Puccini loved women. His operatic heroines of Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Mimì are what legends are made of – but so far little has been told about what – or more importantly who – inspired these passionate women of opera.

 

On the last Sunday in June, their silence will finally be broken. Over a very special afternoon, six of Puccini’s lovers will share their stories of lust, romance and betrayal, and of the man they all loved.

 

It was not easy enticing them to Australia, and even more difficult encouraging them to speak publicly about Puccini.

 

They only agreed on the proviso that the setting would be intimate and relaxed. Maleny, the jewel of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, was chosen for its reputation as a bohemian artistisan mecca, a place where Puccini would have felt at home.

 

When asked what format the shows will take, the women wouldn’t be drawn into being categorised. “It’s part conversation, part recital, and features some of the most beautiful arias ever composed by man”.

 

Soprano and long-time lover of Puccini’s music, Vanessa West, portrays six women Giacomo Puccini loved; the soprano’s Maria Jeritza and Rose Ader, a mysterious Corinna from Turin, friend and creative confidant Sybil Seligman, de facto then wife Elvira Puccini, and finally Puccini’s maid Doria Manfredi. Also written by Vanessa West, The Puccini Effect features Associate Angus Grant, production styled ByCeline and with thanks from creative consultant and dramaturg Dr.Tarita Botsman.

 

Escape winter and join with other Puccini lovers for a lazy Sunday afternoon of fine wine, cheese and Puccini’s Women. 30 June only, BOOKNOW!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Big Yikes // Playlab Theatre

  Written by Jake Goodall Growing up can often feel like navigating through uncharted territory, with uncertainties looming at every turn. Big Yikes! encapsulates this sentiment within a concise 90-minute production, weaving the relatable journey of Loxie as she ventures into the complexities of adulthood. From grappling with identity to confronting the daunting questions of purpose and direction.  Reinventing herself to evade being reduced to mere stereotypes, Loxie embarks on a tumultuous period of transition—graduating from school, stepping into her first job, and embarking on the quest for independence while awaiting university acceptances. Set against the backdrop of a dilapidated share house and the tumult of tangled relationships, Big Yikes! delves into the nuances of boundary-setting, decision-making, and self-discovery, all while injecting doses of humor and heartbreak into its storytelling. Written by Madeleine Border, the script's casual tone serves as an accessible...
Post a Comment
Read more

Article: Circa turns 20! // Circa

  Australia’s mighty circus company CIRCA is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2024. It was on March 31, 2004, that Circa, then an ensemble of three, performed its first show. Fast forward twenty years, and Circa is an ensemble of thirty, with five full time directors and designers; from its original base in Brisbane, Circa now has additional homes in Cairns and satellite bases around the world.   Firmly established as one of the world’s leading performance companies, over the past two decades, the company has achieved remarkable success to become Australia’s most internationally toured performing arts company, performing in over 45 countries, to nearly 2 million people and attracting superlative reviews wherever it goes.   In 2024, Circa is delivering a staggering 361 performances in 20 different countries 97 cities and towns. Australian highlights include the World Premiere of Dido and Aeneas, a new collaboration with Opera Queensland following January’s critically accla...
Post a Comment
Read more

Article: Free Dance Classes To Incentivise Boys to Dance - Queensland Ballet

This month Queensland Ballet launched The Ballet Boys Project , a series of initiatives designed to explore and address the decline of boys in ballet and dance. Since 2020, Queensland Ballet Academy has seen a 36% decline in male enrolments, a downward trend that Christian Tàtchev, Director of Queensland Ballet Academy, observes is evident across the professional training industry globally. Queensland Ballet Executive Director Dilshani Weerasinghe said the company is taking the decline seriously by taking a market leading stand and addressing what is potentially a sustainability issue for the artform. “As such, we are encouraging the dance and broader community to join this movement with us to ensure the tradition of ballet – although ever evolving, lives on with strong participation from male dancers,” Mrs Weerasinghe said. The company has established a The Boys in Ballet Committee to identifying the roadblocks and take action to address the issue. As the fi...
Post a Comment
Read more