Reviews

Seventy years after the death of Franz Lehár in 1948, now free of copyright restrictions, The Merry Widow has been transformed by Opera Australia into an exquisite jewel of a production - perfect to debut in the newly refurbished Joan Sutherland Theatre.

Take Shakespeare’s tale about a magic love triangle, perform it amongst nature in the Royal Botanical Gardens, add kooky costuming and clever sound and lighting, and you’re half way to imagining this spin on the classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

“Let’s Do The Time Warp”?

“Again”…?

Yes, let’s – because that song (and its self-explained choreography) really is a timeless classic of musical theatre, one that cannot help but make you want to get up and groove along, regardless of how many Rocky Horror Shows you may have experienced, on the stage or the cinema screen.

Each year QPAC’s annual Spirit of Christmas concert just seems to get bigger and better and this year was no exception. With over 400 artists participating from the QPAC Choir, Brisbane Chorale, Voices of Birralee, Brisbane Birralee Voices, Brisbane Bells Handbell Orchestra and guest artists Simon Gleeson, Alinta Chidzey, Julia McRae, Shubshri Kandiah and Sofia Formica, accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the voices of the massed choirs were indeed heavenly.

“Joy to the World” has never sounded more appropriate nor more joyous.