HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Tuesday 27 October  @ 7.30pm

Thursday 29 October  @ 7.30pm

Saturday 31 October @ 7.30pm

Tuesday 3 November  @ 7.30pm

Thursday 5 November @ 7.30pm

Saturday 7 November  @ 7.30pm

Subscriptions and single tickets

available from BOCS now

Puccini thought that Fanciulla was his greatest opera - it is a masterpiece of colour and invention in which the orchestra becomes a character in its own right. Its premiére at the Met in 1910 was presided over by Toscanini with Enrico Caruso, Destinn and Pasquale Amato in the principal roles, the greatest singers of the time. We have done our best to respond to this provenance with a fine cast of international and Australian singers under the guidance of Puccini scholar Aldo Salvagno - a conductor with a distinguished career in Italy.  The tremendous masculine energy of the music - which frames the story of the heroine Minnie and her love for the bandit Johnson - makes a brilliant start to the piece and Minnie’s subsequent first entrance becomes one of the most eloquent moments in opera. Puccini was obviously influenced by both Debussy and Strauss - but his style still emerges with unmistakable individuality and power. This music of Act II has been cited as an influence by Bartok when he was writing Blue Beard’s Castle - indeed the entire opera is so individual - such a triumphantly successful synthesis of many different clearly recognisable elements into a coherent whole - that it is breathtaking in its sweep and scale. This will be an important premiére for Western Australia and a real high point in the history of our opera company. Anke Höppner, one of Australia’s great singing actresses, makes an important role debut as Minnie, the owner of the Polka Saloon and inspiration for the men of the miner’s camp.  One of the world’s most exciting tenors, Argentinean Dario Volontè, makes his West Australian Opera debut as the outlaw Dick Johnson, who falls in love with Minnie and is rescued from the gallows by her.  The legendary Australian baritone Jonathan Summers makes his debut appearance with West Australian Opera as the Sheriff, Jack Rance, who is in love with Minnie and will stop at nothing to possess her. James Clayton sings the role of Ashby, the Wells Fargo agent and Douglas McNicol makes a welcome return to West Australian Opera as Sonora, one of the miners.  They are supported by an extraordinary cast of West Australian singers, showing how much depth of talent exists in Perth. For some reviews of recent productions of Girl of the Golden West please click on the below links: Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London 2005 Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London 2008 New York City Opera 2005 Grange Park Opera, England 2008 To watch a YouTube video of Girl of the Golden West please click here.

Conductor - Aldo Salvagno Director - Nigel Jamieson Set Designer - Michael Scott-Mitchell Costume Designer - Zoe Atkinson Minnie -- Anke Höppner Dick Johnson -- Dario Volonté  (Click here to see Dario performing live.) Jack Rance -- Jonathan Summers   (Click here to see Jonathan performing live.) Wowkle -- Sarah-Janet Dougiamas                                    Nick -- Stuart Laing Ashby -- James Clayton Trin -- Matthew Lester Sonora - Douglas McNicol Harry -- Roberto Abate Joe -- Tom Wood Handsome -- Chris Lewis Happy -- Michael Honeyman Sid -- David Dockery Jack Wallace -- Sitiveni Talei Larkens/Billy Jackrabbit -- Robert Hofmann José Castro -- Andrew Foote West Australian Opera Chorus West Australian Symphony Orchestra Sung in Italian with English surtitles This production has been commissioned by the Opera Conference which is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. The Opera Conference is the national partnership of professional opera companies, comprising Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, State Opera of South Australia and West Australian Opera.

Season Partner

Principal Partner

Conductor Sponsor

Principal Female Artist Sponsor

Chorus Sponsor

Season Wine Sponsor

Rehearsal Venue Partner