Jenny Pollard, The Buloke Times
A madcap romp filled with stunning vocals, incredible music and eye-catching costumes drew loud applause from the large crowd which attended the Lyster Opera performance of “The Italian Girl in Algiers” at The Rex last Saturday afternoon.
The Charlton production kicked off the company tour which is headed across regional Victoria as well as a number of Melbourne locations.
The convoluted story of love by composer Gioachino Rossini was filled with larger-than-life characters, and while the beautiful singing soared throughout The Rex auditorium, the comedic touches added another dimension for the audience’s enjoyment.
Humour was carried through to even the subtitles, which appeared on a large screen to one side of the stage. Comments such as “This being Rossini, it goes on for a while” during the tenor’s Act 1 solo, and later “The tenor demands a second solo” showed that opera doesn’t have to be serious and intense.
The predominantly young cast, who were drawn from across Victoria, showcased their vocal capabilities to an appreciative audience, many of whom had travelled some distance to attend.
Sponsor
Pleasingly, the philanthropic sponsor of the tour, Mr. Hans Henkell also attended The Rex performance, soaking up the venue’s atmosphere and speaking with audience members afterwards. A passionate lover of opera, Mr. Henkell was a major sponsor for the 2023 Bendigo season of Wagner’s massive “Ring Cycle” as performed by Melbourne Opera.
Musical director and accompanist, Pamela Christie made the complex score flow seamlessly out of the concert grand piano, and though partially hidden during the performance behind one of the five free-standing scenery flats, she received prolonged applause during the final curtain call.
Upholding the original ideal of opera empresario, William Saurin Lyster, (after whom the company is named), the current iteration of the Lyster continues to build on the tradition of bringing this art form to audiences beyond a metropolitan setting.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 3 September 2024.
