HANDA OPERA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR
HANDA OPERA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR - LA TRAVIATA, Opera Australia at Farm Cove, from March 24, 2011.
Opera Australia's extravagant outdoor production of La Traviata is taking shape at Farm Cove on Sydney Harbour. Opening night is March 24 and today (March 16) the giant Swarovski crystal chandelier (9x9 metres) arrived by barge from its construction site in White Bay.
Here it is, photographed by James Morgan, cherrypicked into place above the stage setting (one of Brian Thomson's more amazing imaginings), waiting for the singers and orchestra.
Meanwhile, over at Olympic Park, the alternating casts, including stars Emma Matthews and Rachelle Durkin (Violetta) and Gianluca Terranova and Ji-Min Park (Alfredo) and the OA Chorus have been rehearsing under the watchful creative eye of director Francesca Zambello.
Today, though, the chandelier is the star, weighing in at 3.5 tonnes, it's been a labour of love for Swarovski's craftspeople - 720 hours to manufacture and 240 hours to assemble, not including the tug-shepherded voyage down the harbour. As well as 10,000 Swarovski crystals, there are 1025 crystal shapes, 23,104 facets, 24 moving lights and 3000 LED lights - but no candles. All suspended above a startling stage structure on the water in Farm Cove.
The 3000-seat on-land structure is designed in such a way that the view and sound from the cheapest seats (a mere $85) should be excellent. And if you want to spend more, the tiered mod-fin de siecle brasserie-bar area, designed by Ross Wallace, features a variety of ways of enjoying the evening. Good food and wine is very much a part of it, as is the spectacular musicians and voices of Opera Australia's finest. La Traviata is Verdi at his most romantic and tuneful; the characters - La Dame aux Camellias - are among the world's favourites and, altogether, it's promising to be one of the most thrilling ways to spend in evening in Sydney since [insert your last thrilling evening in Sydney here].
Check for ticket availability at www.operaonsydneyharbour.com.au/
