Dear Readers,
I have been to the opening night of a marvellous production of The Merry Widow, part of a four opera subscription season this summer (along with Ernani, Tosca and Bluebeard’s Castle). We still have some Covid clusters in Sydney but life largely continues as usual. The 50% capacity rule for live theatre was raised to 75% a few weeks ago and I estimate that was about the attendance last night. Things can change very rapidly with Covid-19 so we are all on tenterhooks and taking all precautions and sanctions by our state governments.
It was a strange feeling returning to familiar scenes in unfamiliar times ... masks compulsory, drinks pre-opera but NOT during intermissions; social distancing, digital tickets, logs in and out on QR codes, etc.
Only once before did the opera company open their "opera" season with a piece from musical theatre rather than opera - My Fair Lady many years ago.
More about 'Widow' from the usual reviewers … I enjoyed it greatly and felt that all singers were excellent, the show was non-stop fun. Highly recommended! Seats available from $40 to $335 see OA web site. We had an extraordinary electrical storm here in Sydney after the opera ... quite theatrical! And no charge!!
Andrew Byrne ..
