Thursday, December 26, 2019

The 5th Annual OperaChaser Awards and Commendations

- 2019 -

Revealed via Twitter @OperaChaser on 27th December 2019, commencing at 5pm,

Dromana, Victoria.


The 5th Annual OperaChaser Awards and Commendations are an opportunity to reflect on the year and are dedicated to all who have contributed in sharing their artistic and creative pursuits by nourishing their audiences with immeasurable and lasting enjoyment. 

This year, I saw 67 diverse opera productions in 15 cities across 3 continents. A little more than half of that figure represented productions I attended in Australia while most of the international performances I attended were in the the U.S.A. The work I see from companies large and small continue to demonstrate that opera can be interpreted opera with contemporary relevance and connect with a wider audience. 

Conditions change, making it necessary to be more fluid from year to year when considering awards and commendations. In the past, for the first part of the the awards , I have separated the heavily government funded companies from the far smaller budgeted independent ones. Melbourne Opera, a sizeable independent company, continues to impress with productions on par with the two major government funded companies in Victoria, Opera Australia and Victorian Opera. This year, it seems more fitting to include them in this category. The small independent opera companies have been grouped together. Only one award, for Outstanding Production, has been given this year. 

As always, thank you to all involved in creating the ephemeral beauty of opera in performance. Again, there is no little ceremony, no trophy and no prize, but I sincerely hope that these awards bring a little pleasure to the deserved artists who bring excellence to the art of opera and all who continue to dig deep into their artistic, dramatic and creative energies.



OperaChaser Award for Outstanding Production, Melbourne:
Il viaggio a Reims Opera Australia 
Photo: Prudence Upton



OperaChaser Awards, Melbourne

From 26 productions


Outstanding Production
Il viaggio a Reims, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-rossini-rarity-il-viaggio-reims.html

Outstanding Production - Small Independent Company
The Enchanted Pig, Gertrude Opera, Yarra Valley Opera Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-enchanted-pig-arrives-in-its.html

Outstanding Opera in Concert
Andrea Chénier, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/08/in-outstanding-team-sporting-spirit-and.html

Outstanding Director
Damiano Michieletto
Il viaggio a Reims, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-rossini-rarity-il-viaggio-reims.html

Outstanding Conductor 
Richard Mills
Parsifal, Victorian Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/02/victorian-operas-parsifal-illuminates.html

Outstanding Male in a Leading Role 
Derek Welton
Klingsor, Parsifal, Victorian Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/02/victorian-operas-parsifal-illuminates.html

Outstanding Female in a Leading Role
Helena Dix
Title role, Norma, Melbourne Opera
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/helena-dix-stars-in-new-production-of-norma/news-story/c6a3e96fdb312ec818fc10e8f5c96cde

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role
Luke Gabbedy
Valentin, Faust, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/moral-hypocrisy-exposed-in-lavish.html

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role
Anna Dowsley
Siébel, Faust, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/moral-hypocrisy-exposed-in-lavish.html

Outstanding Chorus
Melbourne Opera Chorus
Chorus Director: Raymond Lawrence
The Flying Dutchman, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/02/melbourne-operas-flying-dutchman-takes.html

Outstanding Set Design
Charles Edwards
Faust, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/moral-hypocrisy-exposed-in-lavish.html

Outstanding Costume Design
Carla Teti
Il viaggio a Reims, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-rossini-rarity-il-viaggio-reims.html

Outstanding Lighting Design
Robert Bryan
Rigoletto, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/05/moshinskys-rigoletto-revival-for-opera.html


OperaChaser Commendation for Outstanding Production, Australia:
Farnace, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
Photo: Brett Boardman


2019 OperaChaser Commendations, Australia

From 10 productions seen in Adelaide and Sydney



Outstanding Production
Farnace, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/vivaldis-farnace-opens-in-australian.html

Outstanding Director
Mark Gaal
Farnace, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/vivaldis-farnace-opens-in-australian.html

Outstanding Conductor
Erin Helyard
Farnace, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/vivaldis-farnace-opens-in-australian.html

Outstanding Male in a Leading Role
Christopher Lowrey
Title Role, Farnace, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/vivaldis-farnace-opens-in-australian.html

Outstanding Female in a Leading Role
Ermonela Jaho
Title role, Anna Bolena, Opera Australia, Sydney
^https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/anna-bolena-opera-australia/

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role
Max Reibl
Gilade, Farnace, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/12/vivaldis-farnace-opens-in-australian.html

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role
Stacey Alleaume
Sophie, Werther, Opera Australia, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-festering-drama-alive-with-two.html

Outstanding Chorus
Opera Australia Chorus
Turandot, Opera Australia, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/01/decades-on-graeme-murphys-turandot-for.html

Outstanding Set Design
Dan Potra
Whiteley, Opera Australia, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-new-australian-opera-magnifies-life.html

Outstanding Costume design
Marianna Fracasso 
Anna Bolena, Opera Australia, Sydney
^https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/anna-bolena-opera-australia/

Outstanding Lighting Design
Urs Schönebaum
Wozzeck, Opera Australia, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-welcome-new-wozzeck-for-opera.html


OperaChaser Commendation for Outstanding Production, International:
Rusalka, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco
Photo: Cory Weaver

2018 OperaChaser Commendations, International

From 31 productions seen in 12 cities: Alameda, Bayreuth, Chicago, Costa Mesa, Livermore, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco and San Jose.


Outstanding Production
Rusalka, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/06/more-than-tale-of-love-and-sacrifice.html

Outstanding Director 
Richard Jones
Ariodante, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/03/highlights-aplenty-in-handels-freshly.html

Outstanding Conductor
Valery Gergiev
Tannhäuser, Bayreuth Festival 2019, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-wild-confronting-and-bittersweet.html

Outstanding Male in a Leading Role
Christian Van Horn
John Claggart, Billy Budd, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-stirringly-sung-orchestrally.html

Outstanding Female in a Leading Role
Lise Davidsen
Elisabeth, Tannhäuser, Bayreuth Festival 2019, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-wild-confronting-and-bittersweet.html

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role
Kihun Yoon
Marcello, La boheme, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles 
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/09/puccinis-la-boheme-flickers-its-charms.html

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role
Heidi Stober 
Dalinda, Ariodante, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/03/highlights-aplenty-in-handels-freshly.html

Outstanding Chorus
Bayreuth Festival Chorus
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Bayreuth Festival 2019, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/08/barrie-koskys-daring-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Set Design
Jorge Ballina 
L'Amour de loin, Ópera de Belles Artes, Mexico City 
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/04/timeless-and-beguiling-lamour-de-loin.html

Outstanding Costume Design
Brigitte Reiffenstuel
Falstaff, The Metropolitan Opera, New York
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-jubilant-debut-for-one-aussie-soprano.html

Outstanding Lighting Design
Paule Constable
Billy Budd, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco 
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-stirringly-sung-orchestrally.html
Once again, thank you to all!


^ links to reviews not penned by myself


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