AUTHOR: Deborah Humble

Interview: Barry Ryan

This month at Arts Centre Melbourne’s playhouse, Victorian Opera continues its innovative programming presenting five performances of Janacek’s early twentieth century masterpiece Cunning Little Vixen. Directed by Stuart Maunder, conducted by Jack Symonds, Director of the Sydney Chamber Orchestra, and featuring the Victoria Youth Opera Chorus, the performances will be set in an idyllic forest.…Read More

Jessica Pratt: La Sonnambula and beyond

In this very special interview for Classic Melbourne, and ahead of her performance with Victorian Opera Jessica Pratt talks about the company as well as her career internationally, her home in Italy and much more. Asking the questions was long-time colleague and friend, fellow diva Deborah Humble. DH You have enjoyed a very close association with…Read More

Music for the ANZACs

Earlier this month whilst working in Lille, France, I travelled to Ypres (Ieper) in the Western Flanders region of Belgium, visiting some of the World War One battlefields. 2017 is the 100th anniversary year of some of the most major and devastating conflicts of the “war to end all wars,” including the Battle of Passchendaele.…Read More

Volunteers worth their weight in Rheingold

They act as one. Donning swimming costumes at the beginning of Das Rheingold to hide golden pom-poms as they form a Sea of Humanity, they are still there 16 1/2 hours later for the closing bars of Die Gotterdammerung watching everything go up in flames from the sideline bleachers. Acting as one but in fact…Read More

Interview: Amber Wagner

Soprano Amber Wagner will sing the role of Sieglinde in the Melbourne Ring Cycle which opens tonight. She first performed in Melbourne in 2013 when she sang the Verdi Requiem under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. “I love Melbourne,” Ms Wagner says. “It’s such a great city; easy to…Read More

Interview: Liane Keegan

Deborah Humble talks with dramatic contralto Liane Keegan about her musical life in Melbourne and recreating the role of Erda in the 2016 Melbourne Ring. What motivated your return to Australia in 2012 and what is your perception of the cultural and artistic life here by comparison? I no longer enjoyed working in opera in…Read More

Interview: Anna-Louise Cole

Deborah Humble introduces soprano Anna-Louise Cole who talks about her recent successes, singing in the Melbourne Ring Cycle and future engagements. With two roles and an understudy to prepare for, Cole is one very busy young singer. “Could you tell us about your recent competition success and experiences?” “I feel like I’ve had a pretty…Read More

Interview: Warwick Fyfe

Interviewer Deborah Humble presents a full and fascinating interview with her erstwhile colleague and friend, Warwick Fyfe, including his huge success with  Alberich in the Melbourne Ring Cycle in 2013. “Can you tell me a bit about what you have done/sung since the last Ring Cycle?” “Ooh lots. I can’t list everything but there was Rigoletto,…Read More

Interview: Matthew Hassall

Interviewer Deborah Humble finds herself in the pits, as Associate Principal Violinist for the Ring Cycle, Matthew Hassall, talks about seeing Wagner from “the best seat in the house…” Out of all the people involved in the Ring, you will probably be one of the hardest working. What is it like to play so many…Read More

Interview: James Johnson

Wer ist Wotan? Deborah Humble introduces American bass-baritone James Johnson… A collective metaphorical groan rang out amongst Melbourne Ring Cycle ticket holders the day Opera Australia recently announced that, due to ill health, Greer Grimsley would not be coming to sing the role of Wotan in the 2016 Melbourne Ring Cycle. Actually, it was not…Read More