A special kind of magic with Jessica Blunt

You may know soprano Jessica Blunt from her highly-acclaimed debut Principal Role of Violetta in our recent production of La traviata. But what has the journey to that role looked like over the last few years and how have our donors supported that journey?

Jessica was one of our Wesfarmers Arts Young Artists for the two-year program in 2024 and 2025. We are grateful to have a wonderful group of donors* who support a series of Masterclasses for program participants, offering singers like Jessica, on the cusp of their professional careers, a unique opportunity to refine their craft. They receive specific tailored guidance from senior artists such as Paul O’Neill and Emma Matthews AM, and knowledge that has been passed down through generations of singers at the highest level in a field that is traditionally reliant on this master-student relationship.

One of our Masterclass donors Ruth Stratton has followed Jessica’s progress with great interest. Last year Jessica was cast in the minor role of Inez in our production of Il trovatore, but on closing night was asked to stand in for the lead, due to illness, with only three hours’ notice and next to no rehearsal – a daunting prospect for even the most seasoned performer!

Ruth says, ‘The performance was, as anticipated, a joy to listen to. The announcement that Jessica Blunt was to sing the role of Leonora had me on the edge of my seat with excitement. Having had the honour of attending her Masterclass moments I know how hard she has worked to be ready to move forward. 

‘I think a star was born on Saturday night! No one could be more thrilled than we were. Jessica’s voice was excellent and her ability to handle the additional requirements displayed maturity beyond her professional years. She richly deserved that standing ovation.’ 

Our donors also supported some of Jessica’s addition training, with the philanthropic Roberts Emerging Artist Program and Bendat Scholarship funds assisting with her 2025 trip to Austria and Germany where Jessica immersed herself in intensive vocal training with some of the world’s leading opera professionals.

At the time she said, ‘It was a truly fabulous and intense couple of weeks of ‘tuning up my instrument’ and I feel I have really gained so much new information that I can now process and develop back in Perth. I feel I've unlocked new levels of musicianship and vocal technique, as well as really working on the importance of the whole body and its role in supporting the voice, particularly when singing coloratura and the broader lyric repertoire. I’m incredibly grateful to WAO for supporting me on this trip.’

Most recently, Jessica appeared as Violetta in La traviata, with audiences widely describing her as ‘exceptional’, ‘breathtaking’, and ‘a star in the making’.

But to bring Violetta to life on the stage takes more than just an outstanding singer. Jessica says, ‘One of the things I love most about this career and this industry is the coming together of so many different people to create one moment of music and storytelling. From the production crew to the wardrobe team to the musicians underneath us, everyone is contributing to a moment which takes our audience from real life to another world, and that is a special kind of magic.

‘Every performance requires so many specific and unique skillsets. It would not be possible without the community supporting us to continue going on stage and making these moments. As a not-for-profit organisation, the donors and supporters of West Australian Opera are truly at the heart of what we do.’

Great opera is shaped by many hands, including yours. You give life to great opera.

By making a tax-deductible donation to West Australian Opera, you enable us to continue developing young talent and bringing exceptional singers to the stage of His Majesty’s Theatre.

Through your generosity, you give life not only to great opera, but to the people who experience it. Jessica has said that opera mirrors life’s themes and what it means to be human: love, loss and sacrifice. You help create moments that move us – moments of beauty, drama and connection that resonate with our audiences far beyond the fall of the curtain.

As we approach our 60th anniversary in 2027, we are reflecting on the extraordinary community that has sustained us for six decades. This milestone is both a celebration of our history and an invitation to help shape what comes next. With your support, we will honour that legacy while building an ambitious future for opera in Western Australia.

We invite you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to West Australian Opera before 30 June. Click here to learn more about our Annual Appeal.

You can donate online here or by filling in this form and posting and emailing it back to us. Contact Jane Campbell, Philanthropy Manager, on (08) 9278 8915 or [email protected] to make a gift or ask any questions.

Thank you for being part of the community that brings life to great opera.

* Masterclasses for Wesfarmers Arts Young Artists are supported by Cathy Bardon & Bob Cassie, Dr Chris & Mrs Vimala Whitaker, Dr Glenda Campbell-Evans & Ken Evans AM and Ruth Stratton