Reuben Kaye In Opera Up Late Returns To Melbourne For One Night Only

Feature-Opera Up Late

Following its wildly successful Melbourne debut last year, opera’s greatest late-night party Opera Up Late will return to the Regent Theatre for one mischievous night only, on 15 November.

Outrageous, opera-loving host Reuben Kaye will once again shock and delight audiences with his riotous celebration of all things operatic, with added musical theatre classics and a few pop hits sprinkled in, this is a night at the opera like none other.

Joining the fun are some of Opera Australia’s finest singers, including Australia’s most highly awarded soprano Emma Matthews, with Ruth Strutt, Daniel Macey and Anthony Mackey, who all make a welcome return to the glittered Opera Up Late stage.

This year the operatic cabaret will borrow its set from Opera Australia’s new production of La Bohème and will feature an all-new repertoire of wicked jokes, fabulous costumes and a brand new take on some of opera’s most iconic arias, but in the queerest, campest way possible.

Award-winning director Shaun Rennie has praised the talented host and cast who make this concert an ongoing and joyful celebration of opera, queerness and camp.

“Opera Up Late began as a one-off concert in 2023 for World Pride and has grown into an ongoing celebration of all things opera, camp and naughty unapologetic joy!

“Built on the extraordinary talent, creativity and infectious energy of Reuben Kaye as host alongside so many gifted performers from Opera Australia, it is a total joy to create every year.

“I’d encourage everyone to join us at the Regent Theatre in November for a guaranteed night of belly laughs and divas!” Rennie said.

In all its sparkling glory Opera Up Late will be an unforgettable night out, the perfect opportunity for audiences to dress to impress, laugh out loud and celebrate everything fabulous about opera.

Performance information

Music Director/Pianist: Shanon D Whitelock
Director: Shaun Rennie
Host: Reuben Kaye
Cast: Emma Matthews, Ruth Strutt, Daniel Macey, Anthony Mackey
Featured Dancers and Choreographers: Nicholas Jachno, Tiggy Treloar

Time: 9:00pm
Date: 15 November
Running time: Approximately 75 minutes with no interval.

This production may contain adult themes, coarse language, drug references, nudity, and sexual content.

Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office (03) 9685 3700
www.opera.org.au

Regent Theatre
191 Collins Street, Melbourne

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World Premiere: Opera Australia’s New La Bohème Brings Snowy Paris To Melbourne This November

Feature-La Bohème

Opera Australia (OA) will unveil a shimmering new production of Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne in a World Premiere season from 7-18 November.

The first new mainstage production of one of the world’s most famous operatic tragedies by OA in 15 years, this production is set in the winter wonderland of 20th century Paris, recreated through the eyes of the painters, poets and musicians of its time.

One of Australia’s most exciting opera directors, Constantine Costi, will lead a talented team of young Australian creatives to envision this new La Bohème, including Set Designer Dann Barber, Costume Designer Sabina Myers and Lighting Designer Morgan Moroney.

Spectacular set pieces, including a flying balloon basket and life-sized, on-stage floats, will bring a painting-inspired set to life, with glorious scenery hand painted by OA’s talented team of scenic artists, with magnificently detailed and richly coloured costumes, all crafted by hand at OA’s headquarters.

La Bohème will star a luminous cast of international and Australian singers, including Melbourne-born Alexandra Flood who will sing Musetta in a highly-anticipated homecoming season, while award-winning soprano Galina Cheplakova, in her Australian debut, will share the heartbreaking role of Mimì with Italian soprano Valeria Sepe, who makes a welcome return to OA.

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Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young lyric tenors in the opera world, Australian Chinese tenor Kang Wang will share the role of Rodolfo with award winning Italian Paride Cataldo, who will also perform with OA for the first time.

Under the baton of acclaimed British conductor Finnegan Downie Dear, making his OA debut, will be the brilliant Orchestra Victoria, internationally acclaimed Opera Australia Chorus and Opera Australia Children’s Chorus.

Puccini’s timeless music captures the power of love, the beauty of youth, and the sheer joy of being alive and in this production it finds new life once again by a whole new generation of talented creatives and performers.

Creatives
Conductor Finnegan Downie Dear
Director Constantine Costi
Set Designer Dann Barber
Costume Designer Sabina Myers
Lighting Designer Morgan Moroney
Movement & Assistant Director Shannon Burns

Performance information
7.30pm: 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 November
2:00pm: 8, 15 November
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Running time: Approximately 2 hour and 15 minutes.
Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

Cast
Mimì: Galina Cheplakova (7, 10, 12, 14 & 17 Nov), Valeria Sepe (8, 11, 13, 15 & 18 Nov)
Rodolfo: Kang Wang (7, 10, 12, 14 & 17 Nov), Paride Cataldo (8, 11, 13, 15 & 18 Nov)
Musetta: Alexandra Flood
Marcello: Luke Gabbedy
Schaunard: Stephen Marsh
Colline: David Parkin
Benoit/Sergeant: Clifford Plumpton
Alcindoro: Simon Meadows
Officer: Tom Hamilton
Parpignol: Benjamin Rasheed
Orchestra Victoria
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Children’s Chorus
Opera Australia Actors

Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office (03) 9685 3700
www.opera.org.au

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