REVIEW: Opera in the Domain

Packed cheek by jowl on the emerald lawns of the Domain, a huge crowd of thousands enjoyed another year’s offerings in a sublime evening of gorgeous music, largely favourites from the opera repertoire.

As the fruit bats crossed the pastel sky above the huge white shell of the stage, the Opera Australia Orchestra struck up the opening chords of Shostakovich’s ‘Festive Overture’, a magnificent work that signalled the promise of musical excellence to follow.

Ah, trust those Russians to set the tone with their glorious compositions!

Four singers carried the evening in a varied program of French and Italian works: the glorious Russian soprano Elvira Fatykhova, the mellifluous Sian Pendry, borrowed from her role as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, magnificent tenor Ho-Yoon Chung and the charming and versatile Luke Gabbedy.

They sang their way through Figaro’s song (LG), Bizet’s ‘Habanera’ (SP), Lehar’s ‘Yours is my heart alone’ (DC) and Gounod’s ‘Jewel Song’ (EF), among others.

Two of opera’s most beloved duets were given breathtaking expression in the goddess song from The Pearfishers and the flower song from Lakmé. Listening to such supreme artists perform these wonderful works, one could only think that this evening offered one of those transcendental experiences of life.

Conductor Anthony Legge wielded his baton to great effect, while ABC Radio’s Christopher Lawrence entertained the crowd with his amusing patter, as usual.

What a crying shame it is that this may be the last of these events held at the Domain since 1982. Please, Opera Australia, don’t rob Peter to pay Paul: just create a second venue at Parramatta for the opera-starved Westies and leave the Domain event alone. (ID)

Opera In The Domain was performed on Jan 21 as part of the 2017 Sydney Festival.