Reviews

Opera Australia sure enjoys its Elijah Moshinsky productions. When superstar Verdi specialist Leo Nucci pulled out from the role of Rigoletto, it wasn’t just the cast that changed. The company also chose to switch its revival to Moshinsky’s crowd-pleasing interpretation, famous for its La Dolce Vita-inspired design. First staged in 1991, the production brought an opulence to this dark work and it was a little Italian minor that stole the scene in the third act.

“It is the business of art to be dangerous,” writes Adam Cook in the foreword to his production of The Rolling Stone, a play that challenges the religious, cultural and political powers that “struggle with the notion of homosexuality”.

The Sleeping Beauty is pure opulence on every level. Dance, music, scenery and costumes all combine to make a memorable experience for all ages.   

David McAllister has taken the much-loved gem of the classical ballet repertoire and made it his own without destroying the original intention of Marius Petipa and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

This production is a stunning example of site specific theatre which creates the impression that the play was especially written for the space. The opulence of the ballroom and the depth of stage area it provides are all used in a highly creative and effective manner. The attention to detail in the set and the beautifully choreographed movement gives the performance a sense of elegance and eloquence.