Il Trovatore 1983 Australian Opera Poster

Il Trovatore (Australian Opera)

Deputy Stage Manager of the Australian Opera production of Il Trovatore, with music by Giuseppe Verdi and lyrics by Salvadore Cammarano and Leone Emanuele Bardare at the Sydney Opera House (Opera Theatre) between June 25 and September 17, 1983 for 17 performances. (June 25, 28; July 2, 5, 8, 13, 16, 19 and 22; Aug 24, 27 and 31; Sept 3, 6, 13 and 17)

Produced and Directed by Elijah Moshinsky, Set Design by artist Sidney Nolan, Costume Design by Luciana Arrighi and Lighting Design by Nick Chelton.

Conducted by Richard Bonynge (for Joan Sutherland) alternating with Peter Seymour (for Rita Hunter).

Starring Joan Sutherland and alternating with Rita Hunter (in role of Leonora), Kenneth Collins and alternating with Francisco Ortiz (in role on Manrico), Jonathan Summers (Count di Luna), Lauris Elms (Azucena), Donald Shanks (Ferrando), Cynthia Johnston (Inez), John Durham (A Gypsy), Robin Donald (Ruiz) with the Australian Opera Chorus and Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra.

General Managed by Patrick Veitch, Technical Director: Norman Parker; Stage Managed by Peter Jukes, Deputy Stage Managed by Toby Simkin, Assistant Stage Managers: Stephen Dee, Ann Hoban and Brad Jarrett; Wardrobe Mistress: Marjorie Helmore; Wardrobe Master: Michael Beachey; Wig Mistress: Shirley Germain; Assistant Wig Master: John Lauder; Head Electrician: Donn Byrnes; Deputy Head Electrician: Derek Coutts; Head Flyman: David Chamberlain; Deputy Head Mechanist: Richard Martin; Props: Joe Diflo & Tom Gerrie; Chorus Master was Martin Handley and Concert Master was Gordon Bennett.

Special thanks to lovely Rita and her daughter Mairwyn for insisting I go down to Sydney to repeat Il Trovatore for her again.

Two enemies, passionate and vengeful; an old gypsy woman with a mysterious bond to them both, and a passionate young woman who must either betray an all-consuming love or face death itself – these are the fiery elements that govern Giuseppe Verdi’s unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, madness and retribution.

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Il Trovatore
(Australian Opera)

Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for manrico Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for leonora Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for di luna Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for Azucena Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for Ferrando Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for inez Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Costume for Ruiz Il Trovatore 1983 Sydney Design Set ClothIl Trovatore 1983 Australian Opera Design Sidney Nolan Backdrop Mother ChildIl Trovatore 1983 Australian Opera Photo Joan SutherlandDame Joan Sutherland with her son Adam BonyngeIl Trovatore 1983 Australian Opera Photo Sidney Nolan in rehearsal room  Dame Joan Sutherland Il Trovatore The Met Il Trovatore 1983 Australian Opera Photo Donald Shanks Il Trovatore (1983 Australian Opera) AM Il Trovatore (1983 Australian Opera) VHS

The Full Show

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See it's listing on the IMDB

NOTE:  Sadly, long lost is the program, posters and show details which were destroyed in my NY office during 9/11.   If you have something, anything from this show, images, press clippings, text or memories, please contact me.

10th Anniversary of the Sydney Opera House

1983 also marked the 10th Anniversary of the Sydney Opera House, and featured a gala benefit concert on January 23, 1993 (“an evening of history”) in the concert hall performing some popular music from various operas.  I was lucky too attend, courtesy of Ruth Catlin, the stage manager.

Sydney Opera House 1983 10th Anniversary Gala Concert program cover Sydney Opera House 1983 10th Anniversary Gala Concert program title

Here from that concert is Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti performing ‘Brindisi’ from Verdi’s La Traviata, conducted by Richard Bonynge which opened the concert.

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