The 4th Annual OperaChaser Awards and Commendations

- 2018 -

Revealed via Twitter @OperaChaser on 27th December 2018 commencing at 5pm

Dromana, Victoria.

Every night of the year, opera takes to the stage and impresses its musical, vocal and emotive force on audiences anywhere from Adelaide to Zurich and Reykjavik to Cape Town, from mega-cities to rural outposts, stages big and small. Annual global audience number the tens of millions and people continue to be drawn to its artistic mystique on both sides of the curtain.

This year I was drawn to 64 diverse opera productions in 16 cities across 4 continents. I'm proud of the exceptional work and standards I see from companies large and small, together with the innovative ways I see from those that strive to connect with a wider audience. Opera is alive and will forever remain so.

The 4th Annual OperaChaser Awards and Commendations are an opportunity to reflect on the year once again and are dedicated to all who have contributed in sharing their artistic and creative pursuits by nourishing their audiences with immeasurable and lasting enjoyment.

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:
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
Photo: Jeff Busby

2018 OperaChaser Awards, Melbourne 

From 26 productions

Outstanding Production
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-fabulously-staged-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Production - Independent
The Handmaid's Tale, Gertrude Opera, Yarra Valley Opera Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/drawn-into-daunting-realm-of-fearsome.html

Outstanding Director
Tama Matheson
Metamorphosis, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/awakened-by-opera-australia-brian.html

Outstanding Director - Independent
Linda Thompson
The Handmaid's Tale, Gertrude Opera, Yarra Valley Opera Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/drawn-into-daunting-realm-of-fearsome.html

Outstanding Conductor 
Pietari Inkinen
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-fabulously-staged-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Conductor - Independent
Anthony Negus
Tristan und Isolde, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-accomplished-tristan-and-isolde.html

Outstanding Male in a Lead Role
Armando Noguera
Title role, William Tell, Victorian Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/07/an-achievement-worth-celebrating.html

Outstanding Male in a Lead Role - Independent
Daniel Sumegi
Baron Ochs, Der Rosenkavalier, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/an-inventive-hoot-and-sparkling-der.html

Outstanding Female in a Lead Role
Siobhan Stagg
Mélisande, Pelléas et Mélisande, Victorian Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-superlative-cast-music-of-finesse-and.html

Outstanding Female in a Lead Role - Independent
Lee Abrahmsen
Isolde, Tristan und Isolde, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-accomplished-tristan-and-isolde.html

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role
Nicholas Jones
David, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-fabulously-staged-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role - Independent
Steven Gallop
Marke, Tristan und Isolde, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-accomplished-tristan-and-isolde.html

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role
Dominica Matthews
Flora, La traviata, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/04/moshinskys-lavish-la-traviata-for-opera.html

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role - Independent
Emily Burke
Aunt Lydia, The Handmaid's Tale, Gertrude Opera, Yarra Valley Opera Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/drawn-into-daunting-realm-of-fearsome.html

Outstanding Ensemble
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-fabulously-staged-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Ensemble - Independent
Der Rosenkavalier, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/an-inventive-hoot-and-sparkling-der.html

Outstanding Set Design
Mia Stensgaard
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-fabulously-staged-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Set Design - Independent
Christina Logan-Bell, Der Rosenkavalier, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/an-inventive-hoot-and-sparkling-der.html

Outstanding Costume Design
Anja Vang Kragh
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-fabulously-staged-die-meistersinger.html

Outstanding Costume Design - Independent
Lucy Wilkins
Der Rosenkavalier, Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/an-inventive-hoot-and-sparkling-der.html

Outstanding Lighting Design
Joseph Mercurio, Pelléas et Mélisande, Victorian Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-superlative-cast-music-of-finesse-and.html

Outstanding Lighting Design - Independent
John Collopy
Otello (Rossini), Melbourne Opera
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/10/desdemona-is-star-in-australian.html

OperaChaser Commendation for Outstanding Production, Australia:
Hamlet, State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Festival
Photo: Tony Lewis

2018 OperaChaser Commendations, Australia

From 5 productions seen in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney

Outstanding Production
Hamlet, State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/03/on-musical-underlay-of-brash-modernity.html

Outstanding Director
Neil Armfield
Hamlet, State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/03/on-musical-underlay-of-brash-modernity.html

Outstanding Conductor
Erin Helyard
Artaserse, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney

Outstanding Male in a Lead Role
Allan Clayton
Title role, Hamlet, State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Festival
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/03/on-musical-underlay-of-brash-modernity.html

Outstanding Female in a Lead Role
Jessica Pratt
Title role, Lucia di Lammermoor, Opera Australia, Sydney
^https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/lucia-di-lammermoor-opera-australia/

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role
Russell Harcourt
Megabise, Artaserse, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
^https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/artaserse-pinchgut-opera/

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role
Julie Lea Goodwin
Musetta, La bohème, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/04/wintery-paris-settles-enchantingly-on.html

Outstanding Ensemble
Artaserse, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney
^https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/artaserse-pinchgut-opera/

Outstanding Set Design
Dan Potra
La bohème, Opera Australia
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/04/wintery-paris-settles-enchantingly-on.html

Outstanding Costume design
Roger Kirk
The Cunning Little Vixen, West Australian Opera, Perth
^http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/cunning-little-vixen-0

Outstanding Lighting Design
Jenny Hector
The Howling Girls, Sydney Chamber Opera, Sydney
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/03/experimentally-brave-and-inventive.html

Commendation for Outstanding Production, International:
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
Photo: Enrico Nawrath

2018 OperaChaser Commendations, International

From 33 productions seen in 12 cities: Dubai, Singapore, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Carmel CA, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Fort Worth, Denver and Bayreuth

Outstanding Production
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/2108-bayreuth-festival-roundup-for.html

Outstanding Director
Barrie Kosky
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/2108-bayreuth-festival-roundup-for.html

Outstanding Conductor
Christian Thielemann
Lohengrin, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/2108-bayreuth-festival-roundup-for.html

Outstanding Male in a Lead Role
Maxim Mironov
Orpheus, Orpheus and Eurydice, LA Opera, Los Angeles
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/03/love-death-and-remembrance-john.html

Outstanding Female in a Lead Role
Adela Zahari
Gilda, Rigoletto, LA Opera, Los Angeles
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/05/hits-and-misses-on-fine-brooding-piece.html

Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role
Günther Groissböck
Gurnemanz, Parsifal, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/2108-bayreuth-festival-roundup-for.html

Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role
Jamie Barton
Sara, Duchess of Nottingham, Roberto Devereux, SF Opera, San Francisco
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/09/an-astonishing-queen-and-formidable.html

Outstanding Ensemble
Roberto Devereux, SF Opera, San Francisco
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/09/an-astonishing-queen-and-formidable.html

Outstanding Set Design
Rebecca Ringst
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/2108-bayreuth-festival-roundup-for.html

Outstanding Costume Design
Rosa Loy
Lohengrin, Bayreuth Festival 2018, Bayreuth
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/08/2108-bayreuth-festival-roundup-for.html

Outstanding Lighting Design
Connie Yun
Béatrice et Bénédict, Seattle Opera, Seattle
https://operachaser.blogspot.com/2018/03/putting-shakespeare-back-in-berliozs.html


Once again, thank you to all!



^ links to reviews not penned by myself