First performed in 1900, Nolan said Tosca’s importance was undiminished 120 years on.

“Tosca is often described as the greatest opera of them all, owing in large part to Puccini’s exquisite score. Yet, as a story, Tosca still has so much insight and relevance for contemporary audiences.
The questions it asks and the social, political and economic scenarios it examines keep it alive to the here and now,” Nolan said.

“In a world where political tyranny and intolerance is widespread, Tosca offers a necessary plea for artistic and political freedom.

“With every scene, Puccini ups the stakes. Once you get on board, you can’t get off.”

Tosca reunites Nolan with award-winning Australian soprano Rachelle Durkin, whom he directed a decade ago in John Adams’ A Flowering Tree at the 2009 Perth International Arts Festival.

“I realised that Rachelle not only has an exquisite voice, but she’s a marvellous actor too,” Nolan said.

“This will be her debut in the role, which is very exciting. I expect that in years to come, audiences at this production will take great delight in being able to say they were there when Rachelle Durkin sang Tosca for the first time.”

Tosca transports the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC’s) Lyric Theatre back to 1970s Italy where political and religious tensions are at breaking point.

The production plays out against the era’s backdrop of labour strikes, political assassinations, rioting, bombings, attempted coups, and the influence of religious factions on government.

In a towering cathedral, the artist Cavaradossi (Angus Wood) is engrossed in his painting. When escaped political prisoner Angelotti (Sam Hartley) bursts in, Cavaradossi risks his own life to help him hide from police.

Scarpia (José Carbó), Rome’s tyrannical Chief of Police, suspects Cavaradossi has helped Angelotti to escape. When the famous opera singer Tosca (Durkin) arrives, Scarpia convinces her that Cavaradossi has betrayed her. What ensues is a gripping tale of lust, betrayal and coldblooded murder unfolding at breakneck pace.
Nolan said the decision to shift the action from its original 19th century setting to 1970s Italy amplified Tosca’s strength.

“The 1970s saw a second wave of feminism emerge, with women claiming their place in a world that had previously refused them,” Nolan said.

“There’s a great resonance between the energy of the ‘70s and the energy of the story.

“At the same time in Italy, there was great political unrest with left and right bitterly fighting which resonates very clearly with the original story.”

The world of Nolan’s Tosca is brought to life by Tony Award-nominated Australian designer Dale Ferguson (Exit the King), who first designed for Opera Queensland 25 years ago.

“Patrick had already established he wanted to set it in the ‘70s, so I just threw myself into looking at the Italian political climate at the time seeking cross-references with the original opera which was set around the time of the Napoleonic Wars,” Ferguson said.

“The design for this new production reflects the parallels between church and state and how they’re made of the same cells.”

Regarded as one of Puccini’s greatest soprano roles alongside Turandot, Nolan said it was more vital than ever for strong female characters to take centre stage.

“We have to address that as an artform, opera often represents women in a very problematic way,” Nolan said.

“Even though Tosca dies at the end, she dies of her own hand. She decides that her integrity as a woman and as an artist is more important to her than life itself. I think that’s particularly interesting.”

Opera Queensland’s Tosca
Lyric Theatre, QPAC
13 – 22 June 2019
www.oq.com.au

With a vision to lead a change in opera, while continuing to enrich the lives of their diverse audience, Opera Queensland’s Season 2019 offers a fearless line up of works, including A Flowering Tree, Tosca, Orpheus and Eurydice and Verdi Requiem, a collaboration with Bleach* Festival – celebrating the classics and bringing to life new works.

In his first season as Artistic Director of Opera Queensland, Patrick Nolan presents three main stage productions, along with regional and school touring works and a collaboration with Bleach* Festival, focusing on exceptional artistry and collaborations.

“There is an intimacy to both our re-brand and Season 2019. I want to bring people closer to the work we do, to reveal the threads that connect us. Our humanity, our fragility and our extraordinary abilities. Putting the artform front and centre – celebrating the music and artists of Opera,” said Mr Nolan.

“There is a tangible thread of love, death and ritual woven through our season 2019 programming, from the beautiful story telling of A Flowering Tree, to the powerful female character that is Tosca, it is our aim that the new-look Opera Queensland and Season 2019 present this magnificent art form in a way our audiences want to connect with in today’s world.”

“Central to Opera Queensland and all that we produce is our audience; we can’t make our art or know its impact without the presence of living, breathing warm blooded people. It is my hope that audiences both new and current will join us for Season 2019 and experience all that Opera Queensland has to offer; celebrating the classics and looking to the future,” said Mr Nolan.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Opera Queensland’s program had state wide reach.

“In 2019 Opera Queensland will continue its strong tradition of creating new musical experiences, vibrant engagement opportunities, and memorable productions,” Minister Enoch said.

“In addition to Queensland Government’s ongoing investment in the company, an uplift this year of $2.16 million is helping Opera Queensland return to a season of three mainstage productions each year from 2019.

“Opera Queensland’s programs continue to engage the whole state, connecting with regional and remote centres through performances and workshops, and providing valuable performance opportunities for local artists,” concluded Minister Enoch.

Kicking off the 2019 season, in the Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is the Brisbane premiere of Patrick Nolan’s Helpmann® Award winning work, A Flowering Tree from 2 – 6 April 2019.

Commissioned to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, A Flowering Tree is inspired by Mozart’s The Magic Flute and is composed by John Adams, one of the world’s leading contemporary composers.

The 10th Anniversary season will be conducted by Natalie Murray Beale, an Adams specialist and Opera Queensland artist in residence.

This enchanting work is based on folktale from the Kannada language of Southern India and is a beautiful story about magic, transformation and the dawning of moral awareness.

Along with the grand symphonic score, this work features minimal staging giving way to a 12-metre-high video screen upon which Queensland born and internationally revered video designer, Mic Gruchy mixes projections of pre-recorded imagery exploring the themes and ideas of the story with the live action of the orchestra.

Starring Brisbane’s Lyric Soprano Eva Kong, Tenor Adrian Dwyer, Baritone Craig Colclough along with a large chorus, alongside the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, this is opera for a new world.

“This is opera that takes us to a place of wonder. This is opera for those who are willing to give all to the ones they love,” said Mr Nolan.

One of the world’s best-known operas, Tosca, will transform the Lyric Theatre, QPAC from 13 – 22 June 2019, Directed by Patrick Nolan, for the first time in his career.

Conducted by Oliver von Dohnanyi, Principal Conductor of Ekaterinburg Opera and one of the world’s leading opera conductors, with design by Genevieve Blanchett and lighting by Mark Howett.

Tosca, composed by Giacomo Puccini, is one of the great female characters within opera; a strong woman in an entirely male world, refusing to submit to the patriarchal system.

Two internationally based Australian artists return home to star in Tosca; Rachelle Durkin who makes her role debut as Tosca alongside Angms Wood as Cavradossi. Also starring Jose Carbo as Scarpia the Opera Queensland Season 2019 production will shine a light on power, how it oppresses and controls but also its vulnerability.

“This is an opera for a world where women fight for their right to be equal,” said Mr Nolan said.

The third main stage work in the Opera Queensland Season 2019 cannon is the underworld story of Orpheus and Eurydice, by Christoph Willibald Gluck.

With a long history of being directed by leading choreographers due to the number of dance and movement scenes – the most famous directed by Pina Bausch – the Season 2019 work for Opera Queensland will be directed by Circa Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz.

Based on the myth of Orpheus and set to a libretto by Ranieri de’ Calzabigi. It belongs to the genre of the azione teatrale, meaning an opera on a mythological subject with choruses and dancing.

Starring Owen Willetts as Orpheus and Natalie Christie Peluso as Eurydice, alongside the Opera Queensland chorus and the Circa ensemble – simplicity is at the heart of this production.

With a focus on the body as the site of desire, pain and renewal, this work will see Lifschitz using his troupe of phenomenal acrobats as the creators of the physical world that Orpheus has to navigate.

Conducted by Natalie Murray Beale with costumes designed by Libby McDonnell, and video by Boris Baggatini this is opera raw, physical and sublime.

“This unique collaboration with Circa – Opera Queensland’s first ever – is opera like you have never seen before,” said Mr Nolan.

Along with the main stage program, the state’s flagship opera company will continue to deliver opera to all Queenslanders with the 2019 Season also including continued education programs throughout the state, Opera at Jimbour (27 July), Opera in the Vineyards (5 May) and regional touring work, Songs to Die For, which travels across Queensland throughout August and September 2019.

In a special event and for the company’s first co-production with Bleach* Festival, Patrick Nolan will direct Verdi Requiem, at Home Of The Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast in April 2019.

Sometimes referred to as “an opera in ecclesiastical vestments”, Verdi’s gift for dramatic writing will be on full display in this remarkable score for almost a hundred musicians and a chorus of more than 60 singers.

Set in a ceremonial space, designed by Alex Podger (Dark Mofo and Woodford Folk Festival), with video and lighting by Mark Howett and conducted by Natalie Murray-Beale, Verdi Requiem askes the grand questions of life, taking the audience on an intense musical journey from the depths of profound despair to ecstatic hope.

Starring soloists Natalie Aroyan, Milijan Nikolajic, Rosario La Spina and Andrew Collis alongside an Opera Queensland Chorus complimented with singers from Queensland Conservatorium and the
Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Verdi Requiem is a transcendent work, once experienced never forgotten.

Opera Queensland’s Season 2019 and re-brand reveals a company that is looking to the future, fearlessly creating memorable works for audiences to engage with across Queensland. Whether an opera aficionado or new to the genre, Season 2019 will excite, enchant and inspire, declaring THIS IS OPERA!

For complete Season 2019 information including productions outside of the main stage season see the full Opera Queensland Season 2019 brochure or go to oq.com.au