Fireworks at Opera Australia

The opening of Opera Australia’s annual extravaganza on Sydney Harbour has been marred by an extraordinary rebuke of the company by three of the original creatives of the production of Carmen. David Spicer reports.

A statement has been released by the original director of the 2013 production, Gale Edwards, set designer Brian Thompson and costume designer Julie Lynch.

“As the key Creative Team we feel it is important that the press and public understand that (none of us) have been invited back to oversee the re-mount. 

“In 2013, between the three of us, we conceived, directed and designed Opera Australia's Handa Opera production of CARMEN on Sydney Harbour.

“This Friday March 24, Opera Australia will present this production again. 

It is beyond our comprehension how any professional company or artistic director would exclude the core creatives in such an important revival, especially when we have made multiple overtures to the Company offering our services to remount this much-acclaimed interpretation of CARMEN.

“Therefore, we advise that we cannot guarantee the work's integrity, or that the public will see the production as it was originally intended to be.”

Opera Australia has fired back.

"It is common practice around the globe that directors are very rarely engaged to remount their original productions, and even more rare for set or costume designers," said a statement.

"In keeping with this practice, Opera Australia employs a wealth of talented directors and craftspeople who painstakingly and lovingly present these productions as true to their original format as possible.

"Opera Australia's current Sydney Summer Season included all revivals, La Bohème (Gale Edwards), La Traviata (Elijah Moshinsky),King Roger (Kasper Holten), Tosca (John Bell) and Cavalleria Rusticanaand Pagliacci (Damiano Michieletto).

"All revivals, and all presented by revival directors to great acclaim and accolades, and one of our most successful seasons to date."

Image: Dancers in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Carmen 2013. Photo by James Morgan.