Memorable Operatic Moments

This year marks a very special musical mile-stone at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

The Opera Studio is celebrating twenty years of Opera at USQ.

The past two decades have seen the blossoming of many-a successful career and a multitude of memorable productions.

Recently retired Director of the Opera Studio, Arthur Johnson was instrumental in the development and ongoing success of the Studio.

'When I arrived at USQ back in 1988, there were just twelve singers enrolled, but that soon doubled and before we knew it, the course was one of the most popular in the state,' said Mr Johnson.

'Our first major production was Gluck's Orpheus and Euridice and the second act of The Marriage of Figaro conducted by the late Peter Rorke OAM and directed by Melbourne director, Brian Crossley. It was the first in a long line of memorable productions at USQ.'

Snippets from many of these productions will be included in this year's season; an Opera Odyssey of memorable operatic moments.

The clever compilation of scenes will include pieces from Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado, Bizet's Carmen, Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel and Mozart's Magic Flute, Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte.

Guest Director, John Peek said, "we've used the universal themes of Love til Death to intertwine the different scenes, finding a quirky connection between the famous operas."

'It will be an entertaining glimpse of opera at its best, complete with the famous numbers from The Mikado and Carousel and the infamous characters from Flute, Carmen, and Fledermaus.'

USQ has produced a stream of highly successful graduates including Paul McMahon, Melinda van der Muelen and Hayley Sugars, and the current students are equally as talented.

Opera Odyssey will be presented at 7.30pm on Friday 10, Wednesday 15 and Friday 17 October in the USQ Arts Theatre, with 3pm matinees on Sunday 12 and 19 October and an 11am matinee on Tuesday 14 October.

For further information, call the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111 or visit the website www.usq.edu.au/artsworx.

Media Contact: Michelle Fox, USQ Artsworx, +61 7 4631 1114 or 0439 911 623