AUTHOR: Jon Jackson

Les Misérables

 21st January, 2019

When I was invited to review this production of Les Misérables by the Young Australian Broadway Chorus, I jumped at the chance. Having seen their 2018 production of Wicked, I knew I was in for a real treat. I was not disappointed. As with Wicked, the production values and talent, both on and off stage…Read More

Lady in period attire in front of lush green and purple background

Eileen

 19th November, 2018

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria’s production of Victor Herbert’s comic opera was the first time I’d ever heard of Eileen. I’d seen and heard many excerpts from his 46 stage productions as well as his popular songs, but I’d not seen an entire Herbert opera. From the late 1890s, Victor Herbert was a major figure…Read More

The Mikado

 23rd July, 2018

This production by Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria  is to be viewed through the lens of community theatre, where productions are undertaken for the genuine love of the art form. It relies on a core of dedicated enthusiasts to keep it going. This is a largely traditional production of The Mikado with an introductory scene…Read More

Puffs

 5th June, 2018

The name Puffs is intriguing from the very start. It refers to the name of a student house within a certain famous fictional school for magic. It’s the alternative version of the Harry Potter stories as told by the “also-rans” and “not-so-good-at-magic” pupils who are the Puffs. For those who are familiar with the seven…Read More

The Celtic Tenors

 14th April, 2018

Titled “The Irish Songbook”, The Celtic Tenors’ concert program nevertheless spans a broad variety of genres. Although the three singers are classically trained, their repertoire covers everything from Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? to Puccini’s Nessun Dorma through traditional Irish ballads and even Dolly Parton’s From Here to the…Read More

Wicked

 22nd January, 2018

It is certainly ambitious for any company to take on one of the biggest shows ever to hit Broadway, but to do it with a cast of 114 young performers aged 10 to 20 years of age, sounds like madness. However, the Young Australian Broadway Chorus not only takes it on, but shows the pros…Read More

Opera Australia: The Merry Widow

 18th November, 2017

Opera Australia’s current production of The Merry Widow is a delightful confection, full of wonderful music, singing, dancing and unadulterated fantasy. Just as it was originally intended, Franz Lehar’s most enduring composition is back to fill our senses with romance and a touch of the erotic. From the first opening of the curtain, the audience…Read More

Melbourne Opera: Roberto Devereux

 14th November, 2017

Melbourne Opera manages to produce high quality operatic productions throughout the year without government funding. This is what makes their current production of Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux all the more astounding. It is a rarely performed work and the final in a trilogy of Donizetti’s Tudor-era operas presented by the company. The titular character of Roberto…Read More

The Second Hurricane – Review

 11th October, 2017

This a piece which composer Aaron Copland and librettist Edwin Denby created especially for students in 1938. For this production, the Victorian Opera Youth Company, featuring singers from the Victorian Opera Youth Chorus perform oratorio style, with a large chorus and seven soloists. The accompaniment was brilliantly provided by pianist Tom Griffiths and the company…Read More

Anthony Callea with the MSO – Review

 13th September, 2017

This is the first time I have seen Anthony Callea perform live. And what a great way to see him. Anthony Callea at the top of his game, singing with a world class symphony orchestra; performing two hours of some of the world’s greatest number one hits. It was an enthusiastic sell-out crowd, filling Hamer…Read More